Asphalt spilled in Wied Qirda removed
The asphalt overflowing into Wied Qirda that caused much controversy last week has now been removed.
Controversy erupted over the road widening and resurfacing project – which has already seen the removal of a number of trees and shrubs to widen the country lane – when a truck carrying asphalt overturned after part of the road collapsed, sending its load flying onto a carob tree below. The incident has led to heightened criticism of the project, which is taking place along a ridge in the most picturesque part of the protected valley.
Infrastructure Malta recently told The Malta Independent that “the damaged road will be repaired in the coming weeks, after which all debris and asphalt on the side of the road will be cleaned.” However, the asphalt has now been removed, seemingly prior to the completion of the repair works, possibly due to mounting pressure and scrutiny, with Infrastructure Malta on the defensive over the incident.
Most recently, Opposition leader Adrian Delia hit out at the situation, saying on Facebook that the government was destroying Wied Qirda and that future generations would only see trees in photos.
Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg hit back at the Opposition leader, arguing that Delia ought to have shown more concern for the truck driver involved in the incident, of which the minister added a photo.
In another post, the minister defended the ‘upgrading’ of country lanes, saying that this was improving accessibility for farmers.
Sources recently told The Malta Independent that the works were likely being carried out to ‘improve’ access to a nearby fireworks factory, which started operating in recent weeks. They said, however, that emergency vehicles can still access the area easily with the road in its current form.
While Infrastructure Malta says it consulted the Żebbuġ Local Council on the repair and resurfacing of a rural road in Wied Qirda, adding that the latter did not object to the project, the town’s mayor has said he has never been contacted about this issue by Infrastructure Malta since he took office in June.
The mayor said he had also confirmed, from council records, that no such communication had taken place under his tenure. It is unclear at this stage whether infrastructure Malta consulted the previous local council.