45 comments so far.20 whole years of an abysmally abandoned main road
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These photos are of a long-forgotten main road in Victoria called Pjazzetta Fuq it-Tomba. It seems that while most roads are being resurfaced, come rain or shine, this one has been totally forgotten.
I have written to the Minister for Gozo, to the Office of the Prime Minister, to the person in charge of the projects, etc. I think what we residents need to do is to paint all of our doors blue so the angel of Providence will not pass over this road another year.
This road has never been resurfaced and has only been patched up haphazardly, which is usually wiped by the next downpour. We end up mopping water out of our living room every day it rains, with my poor 88-year-old mother worrying constantly about the next downpour.
I want all of Gozo and Malta to see the reality behind the window-dressing of European standards we are supposed to be enjoying. A great example of EU state-of-the art roadworks.
Shame on the Minister for Gozo who seems to ignore this road constantly and shame on anybody boasting about our roads. This in itself should bar us from the EU immediately because it resembles a Third World country or a shot of the cratered surface of the moon.
Please Prime Minister and Minister for Gozo, take a look at how you are constantly ignoring those who are paying taxes.
These last years have been 20 years of shame.
John Vella,
Victoria.
I happened to be in Gozo last week, and I have to admit that never before have I witnessed such disastrous state of roads on this island, especially in Victoria. Is this some kind of strategy of eco gozo, turning all roads into fields? If yes, then you’re doing a great job.
Given Malta’s close proximity to Italy you would think they would have picked up some hints over the centuries regarding road building from the Romans. I was watching an archaeological program on TV the other night where they were digging up a Roman settlement dating back to the 2nd Century AD in England and the road they found was as good as the day it was built!
And let us not forget that the Victoria Council, in their infinite wisdom, have rerouted heavy traffic right through the middle of this highly residential area.
We now have to endure a continuous stream of heavily overladen lorries and buses past our once relatively peaceful and unpolluted residences!
It is high time that those in charge showed some respect for the quality of life of Victoria’s long suffering residents.
this is just one of the dozens of arterial roads on the island that need sorting properly, the top kilometre of the marselforn road, the roads through and around xewkija destroyed by the diversion from the Victoria-mgarr road, what a complete waste of time and money forever filling and patching, which would be OK considering the financial restraints, if it were done properly,
the prime minister and minister for gozo would properly not know the state of these roads, what reason would they have to travel along them in their expensive chauffeur driven limousines.
councillors and politicians used to be elected by ” the people for the people”, but now days !!!
I’ll be there later this year.
I will give you an honest report, with photographs.
There is no longer a single road in Gozo which can be said to be “in order”!
I drive here with my teeth clenched and my shoulders hunched. Sometimes I wish I could close my eyes as well, but that would be suicide…..
The state of the majority of the urban roads is such that it would take a book to list them and nobody would believe it!
The new roads are a different story, they were frightfully expensive (perceived corruption? See the today’s Times) and not one of them appears to have been constructed according to any specifications, nor have any guarantee. To mention a couple of examples:
The first pothole (on the Victoria side of the Aquaduct) in the 19-million-euro-2km-long Victoria-Gharb road is growing every day, not to mention the lake that occurs at the bottom of the St. Lucia road every time it drizzles.
The gully/steps in the brand-new Xlendi road – caused by flooding due to bad workmanship in December – is getting worse every day. Although warning signs were erected after numerous calls made to Neville at the Ministry in December, one has since disappeared – perhaps washed away?
The Dwejra road remains unfinished and already full of potholes and bumps.
Shall I go on?
Dear Minister for Gozo, I really do think you should do something!!!!!
But the most important ones that should be a priority are the residential ones. Tourists do not have votes but we do and rest assured that my memory will not fail me when it comes to push to shove about my vote
Another thing? Someone mentioned Victoria Council. Is there a council in Victoria? i did not know
Total disaster. If I am not mistaken, some time ago the minister stated that she is happy with the state of the streets and roads in Gozo. No wonder our standards are so low. There are potholes which have been there for months and others have been filled two or three time over. No wonder the government expenses shoot up.
Doesn’t anybody supervise the workers and their work? Apparently not. Yes, some roads have been done, (even if we havn;t got one road up to EU standards) but then all others have been abondoned. I wonder if there is anybody in charge of this work at the moment. But, isn’t there anybody responsible? To me, it seems there is no one or perhaps living in the clouds. The PEOPLE deserve better but not everybody seems to think this way.
Most of the roads we got in Gozo were done with tarmac more than 35 years ago .
So what do you expect when you got a government which is more concerned on how to look nice on the media.
This current government has been fast asleep especially here in Gozo
I used to holiday in beautiful Gozo over 20 years ago before moving to Australia and I must say that J remember this road well, after coming off a motor bike here and hurting my knee, must be time for the roads to have a repair by now surely Gozo,
lol come on.
this is how they surface residential roads in Holland
http://www.gizmag.com/tiger-stone-lays-paving-bricks/16951/picture/124463/
The minister is happy with roads that are seen by foreigners like the Pope or some high flying diplomat who only use Mgarr Road. They should be taken around where residents like us live to have a clear picture of roads that remind one of prehistoric times. By the way most of the residents in our street wear blue. I can only imagine if they wore red what would be the result.
SOS roads – GOZO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT MINISTER ? SHE IS ALWAYS GOING AROUND TO OPEN NEW
SHOWS OR KIDS PLACES WHERE GOVERNMENT MONEY IS NOT
SPENT,BUT WAIT ANOTHER FEW MONTHS AND SHE BE GONE WITH
HER VERY BAD GOVERNMENT.
What do they use for laying the tarmac Superglue or what, as a few days later its back to square one. Come on Gozo get your act together.
The news just come out that TM is going to start patching the roads as from next week. (this is like saying I am going to start my diet Monday week in the meantime I can eat as many pastizzi as I like).
BY THE WAY YOU CAN SEE THE ROADS PLANNED FOR THESE PATCHES ON ANOTHER local ENGLISH NEWSPAPER……… AND OF COURSE GOZO IS NOT MENTIONED ON THE LIST
Gozo will always be THE FORGOTTEN ISLAND
Transport Malta said it will be carrying out wide-ranging temporary repair works over the next two weeks.
And yet, not a single road in Gozo is to be fixed ?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120224/local/tm-to-start-patching-works-next-week.408322
AT the time of writing the road is be temporarily surfaced but not proper resurfacing. When Republic Street is finished it is supposed to be resurfaced properly. AT least not the usual filling of potholes but still not the real thing. But thanks to this and other papers where I have published my complaint things got moving. Do not give in. This is a democracy so we have a right to voice ourselves and complaints. The time of staying hush is over and thanks to the media and internet –the Arab spring owes it a lot to the internet by the way—the power of the untouchables can be contested. I got half what I wanted at least. Now the test when it next rains. Will keep you updated
With reference to the first pothole on the Gharb-Victoria road, I would like to inform readers that it has given birth to another one and it looks like there might just be a multiple birth in the offing!
I can already see the construction companies rubbing their hands waiting for the tenders to be allocated.
@Lesley Kreupl
Very well said.
I live in Australia and very happy to be here,looking at your pictures of the roads in Gozo, even the farms have a better driveway than the roads you guys have to drive on.I have been here since 1961 and all I see is, no change actually the roads were better then.
gozo is always been second best and is not about to change now
The thing is Angela it can change but in order for that to happen the people have to make it happen. The people have to stand up and demand change because it isn’t going to be offered to them on a plate.
@James A. Tyrrell
There is urgent need for a change but the problem is that there is no decent substitute. Some left side proposals do not make sense and have a very poor vision.
Fair point Peter but surely the proposals put forward by any party can only be a reflection as they see it of the demands of the people. If the people don’t complain and demand change and make it known exactly how they want that change to manifest itself then it won’t happen.
In Gozo more than Malta the conspiracy of silence is almost impenetrable. What foreigners fail to see is that when one contests people in power one is labelled. Then that label is inherited and may be vindicated by a potential obstacle to promotion, to prospective jobs for one’s children and the usual evil vicious circle that keeps people mum. Of course this does not help to change the status quo. However as Mr. Tyrrell rightly points out, unless people speak up the powers that be become more powerful, abusive, controlling and oppressive. In short when people become whistle blowers they and their descendants are marked blue or red for life with some very unpleasant consequences. This cultural deposit is more emphasized in Gozo being very small rather than Malta where people are more vociferous about their complaints especially on the media. I think foreigners sometimes make it seem too simple especially if they come from big countries or big cities.
My complaint above about my road has already been interpreted badly and I am sure I am targeted by the Minister etc but at this stage I do not care because my livelihood does not depend on being a nationalist or labourite. But still it does leave a mark for good but I do not care anymore.
@john vella, interesting they only did the small stretch of road outside don bosco and not continue down the whole length of the road, i wonder if some political rally or electiorial event is being held their,
The excuse is that it is a temporary measure and when they finish Republic Street and open it up they would do all Pjazzetta fuq it Tomba down to the whole length of road. No that stretch is where I live and that is why they did because I wrote even to the OPM besides the media. However it is a waste of time and money because they have to do it properly in due time. Planning is obviously a high virtue in Gozo.
No it is just a temporary measure and not the real thing. To shut my mouth basically
Thanks for the reply John and believe me I do understand. Yes I’m a foreigner but I have been coming to Gozo for long enough and have enough friends there to know how things work. I remember a rally that took place in Malta a few years back. I think there were over 100 people marching in support of the NGO concerned but there were many more watching from the pavement and clapping or giving the thumbs up. When a friend who was marching asked some of them why they didn’t join the march as they obviously agreed with what it was about they basically said it would be more than their job was worth to be seen associating with the NGO. Remember this was Malta not China or North Korea! It’s the same the world over John but worse in some places. For my part I have always been outspoken and to hell with the consequences. This is why I tend to write about things which concern me and which I know concern Gozitans. As a foreigner I can say things which they would like to say but choose not to for whatever reason.
Well said A Tyrrell we bark but no one hear ,,,,,I am a gozitan I live in England for the last 46 years i spend half of year in gozo
I wish I could say the same Angela as I love the place!
Thanks James for your comment. I like you tend to be more outspoken even though I am Gozitan myself because I am at a stage in my life where I simply do not care as I said. However, since Gozo is my birthplace I hate to see it falling into pieces because of the abuse of power of those in authority.
All streets of Victoria Gozo but the below are the worst:
Capuchins Street
Dawwar Tomba Street
Sta Dminka Street
Ghajn Qatet Street
Wied is-Seqer Str
Dr Anton Tabone Street
Triq G.Borg Olivier
Foreman Str
John I’ve been at that stage all of my life! At least now I have an excuse I suppose because like you I have reached an age where I just don’t care what people think.
Capuchins Street is still waiting to be resurfaced !!!
the recently completed stretch of main road from victoria to xewkija has its first pot hole, by gozo garage, the route through xewkija used as the diversion is a disgrace, distroyed by the heavy traffic in the last three years
Gozo’s roads especially those of Victoria are literally infested with pot holes and holes. Our roads are a disaster and it is high time that they are resurfaced. Gozo’s roads are much more that the road that takes you from Imgarr to S. Lawrence.
@ mickh911
I do not wanna sound pessimistic about this project as I truly appreciate the effort and funds that went into it and would never want the old road back! However, as a daily driver in this road one cannot but criticize the architectural planning and finish quality of the road.
For starters I still cannot for the life of me understand the reasoning behind the elevation of the Xewkija roundabout. With regards to finish quality one cannot but notice the poor levelling that went into the roads. If you’re driving a car with a slightly stiff suspension one immediately notices the constant bumps. If one walks alongside the road, one can also notice the poor tarmac quality where at some points the tarmac stones are coming off the surface.
My point is, if so much effort, time, public inconvenience and most of all money is put into these projects, why not put some decent preparation, proper inspection and most of all some thought in them? It totally baffles me.
I hope that Gozo don’t remain for another 20 whole years of abysmally abandoned main roads.
Has anyone seen Ramla Road – the residential area, We have been promised tarmac since 1970 and the road is still without tarmac and looks like a third country road
20 whole years of abysmally abandoned main roads in Gozo and we are still waiting of resurfacing and rebuilding of the main roads.