Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1363129
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 APRIL 2021 OPINION Ing. Fredrick Azzopardi is the CEO of Infrastructure Malta Frederick Azzopardi HERE are some important In- frastructure Malta figures that don't make headlines. 500 roads. The number of roads in which Infrastructure Malta carried out maintenance, reconstruction or other up- grades during the last two years, ranging from major projects along the country's TEN-T net- work, such as the upgrading of Regional Road, to the rebuilding of residential roads in different localities. Thousands of fami- lies are already benefitting from the agency's seven-year, €700 million programme for better quality residential roads, with a better environment outside their homes. 62,000 tonnes. The carbon di- oxide emissions that Infrastruc- ture Malta is reducing every year through seven of its major road projects, such as the Santa Lu- cija Roundabout Underpass and the reconstruction of Il-Buqana Road, between Mtarfa and Mo- sta. This is equivalent to 11% of Malta's 2030 greenhouse gas re- duction target. 215 kilometres. The length of new or rebuilt footpaths in 2019 and 2020. We're also introducing safer, segregated crossings, such as the new Tal-Barrani Road sub- way between Santa Lucija and Tarxien and the three bridges for pedestrians and cyclists we opened last year in Blata l-Bajda, Luqa and Paola. €150 million. In 2020, Infra- structure Malta implemented a record capital investment in road and maritime infrastructure, in- cluding a substantial allocation of EU funds. This is more than three times the average annual capital outlay in this sector before the agency was established. 79 percent less travel time. The new roads and flyovers of the Marsa Junction Project are saving almost four out of every five minutes that road users used to spend travelling at this junc- tion when driving to or from southern Malta. 1,400 tonnes. Infrastructure Malta's Grand Harbour Clean Air Project is introducing sho- reside electricity for cruise lin- ers and Ro-Ros visiting Malta, cutting their emissions by more than 90%. That's 1,400 tonnes less nitrogen oxide emissions in the Grand Harbour every year, the equivalent of the emissions of 350 million cars travelling from Cirkewwa to Marsaxlokk. With one project, Infrastructure Malta is cutting Malta's annual nitrogen oxide emissions by 27%. 8 kilometres. In 2019, Infra- structure Malta introduced a safer system of international- ly-certified median crash barriers to prevent rollover accidents and head-on collisions, reducing the risks of serious injuries in eight kilometres of arterial roads, in- cluding Tal-Balal Road and Bur- marrad Road. Through ongoing collaborations with international road safety consultants and or- ganisations, we're working to in- troduce more life-saving technol- ogies in Maltese roads. 14 kilometres. Central Link Project is not simply a project to halve travel times along the Mrie- hel-Balzan-Attard-Ta' Qali road corridor. It is creating many facil- ities for alternative modes of trav- el, including 10.7 kilometres of footpaths and segregated cross- ings, safer bus lay-bys and the longest segregated cycling track in the Maltese Islands, extending 4.3 kilometres. This will take the total length of new cycle lanes be- ing developed by Infrastructure Malta up to 14 kilometres. 3 kilometres. We're laying three kilometres of firefighting pipelines in the four principal tunnels of the Maltese road net- work, in Tal-Qroqq, Ta' Giorni, Santa Venera and Kirkop. It is part of a €10 million renovation of this critical road infrastruc- ture. Besides structural mainte- nance, we're also bringing them up to standard with fire hydrants, LED lighting, traffic cameras, fire alarms, air quality sensors, fire doors, emergency call stations and an automatic incident detec- tion system. €15 million. In two years, In- frastructure Malta also embarked on numerous coastal infrastruc- ture projects, such as the new Qrejten Breakwater in Marsax- lokk, new quays and pontoons for fishers in Gozo's Mgarr Harbour, a new Gozo ferry quay in Cirkew- wa and the reconstruction of other quays and jetties in Mgarr ix-Xini, Delimara, Comino, Mar- sascala Bay and St Thomas Bay. Other important projects, such as the new Sally Port Promenade, are in progress. 5 landing sites. Infrastructure Malta is building two new land- ing sites in Sliema and Cospicua for commuters travelling from these localities to Valletta by fer- ry. They'll be equipped with safer embarkation ramps and sheltered waiting areas for the comfort of passengers. The first phase of the upgrading of the Valletta landing site in Marsamxett was opened in 2019. The agency is planning another two ferry landing sites in Bugibba and Ta' Xbiex, to extend this increasingly popular alterna- tive mode of travel to more pas- sengers. 370 kilometres. Faults in un- derground networks beneath our roads are one of the main caus- es of road surface deterioration. In the streets we rebuilt during the last two years, we replaced or added more than 370 kilometres of water, electricity and telecom- munication networks, as well as sewers and stormwater pipelines. 29,840 trees. Infrastructure Malta planted circa 110 trees every day in different public spac- es across the country during the first three months of this year. The agency planted 8,719 trees in 2019, 11,213 last year and anoth- er 9,908 during the first quarter of 2021. Contractors are engaged to continue taking care of all these trees and plants for several years, until they are fully established. 97 workers. In two years, this new agency has revolutionised the efficiency and quality of in- frastructure development in Mal- ta. It is all down to its team of 97 employees who are working hard to maximise the benefits and sus- tainability of this unprecedented investment. I am thankful of this diligent and dedicated team. 4 values. The first two years of Infrastructure Malta have shown how Malta can successfully plan large-scale infrastructural in- vestments, such as the Marsa Junction Project, and implement them on time and within set budgets. Whilst we constantly strive to improve all stages of our operations, our core values will continue to lead our way – quali- ty, safety, efficiency, and sustain- ability. 500 better quality roads and counting