The Ministry for Gozo has issued a statement this afternoon to say that “following investigations on the damage to the Xlendi Road during the heavy storms on Tuesday, it was found that a manhole cover had not been properly closed, allowing rainwater to rise, which caused the damage.”
The Ministry said that it “has already taken the necessary steps to correct these faults and is holding the contractor accountable.”
The statement concluded, that “the Ministry noted with satisfaction that the storm water culverts built into the road had coped with the flow despite the extraordinary volume of water that fell.”
Photo shows original construction work in Xlendi Road.
5 Comments To "Damage in Xlendi Road caused by manhole cover – Ministry"
#1 Comment By James A. Tyrrell On December 2, 2011 @ 1:50 pm
I commented the other day in the Times about the fact that I had been told on a recent visit to Xlendi that the road had not been completed according to the plans. I asked the Gozo Ministry to comment on whether or not this was the case and if the road would need to be dug up again to fix the problem. Needless to say the Ministry didn’t reply to my question but it seems nature has replied on their behalf!
Living in N. Ireland we get some pretty bad weather including torrential rain at times and other things that the Maltese roads don’t have to contend with like ice and snow, yet the roads stand up to everything that nature throws at them. What is so difficult about doing the same thing in Malta? And why if a contractor screws up like this and shows that they obviously have no idea how to build a road do they continue to be awarded contracts by the Government to build more roads?
#2 Comment By Derek Steele On December 3, 2011 @ 1:13 pm
James,your last question is rhetorical.You know the answer!!
#3 Comment By Carmel Camilleri On December 3, 2011 @ 6:05 pm
@ James A. Tyrrell
James I agree with you 100%.
#4 Comment By cikku l-poplu On December 4, 2011 @ 1:52 pm
@James Tyrrell .In here we call it Friends in high places get you through steel .Obviously you know what I mean.
#5 Comment By James A. Tyrrell On December 4, 2011 @ 4:35 pm
Derek as you say it was a rhetorical question! The reason why it happens is simple, the Maltese have no idea how to properly construct roads. The same firms who have no idea what they are doing are used time and time again because they are friends of the Government and for that reason keep getting the contracts. The Government don’t give a damn as they are not paying for it, the taxpayers are.