Two public calls for the Coast Road

With reference to the article “Lack of call for Coast Road works ‘serious failure’ to comply with rules – Court of Auditors” published today by the Times of Malta.  The article states that,  “..there was direct negotiation with one company without prior call for competition for works on the Coast Road”.  The statement is incorrect.

 

There were two public calls for the Coast Road. The tenders, CT 3077/2012 Road works in conjunction with the widening and reconstruction of Coast Road NA 8 to Magħtab and CT 3078/2012 Road works in conjunction with the widening and reconstruction of Coast Road from Maghtab to Commonwealth Cemetery were issued in February 2013.  This is all documented at the Department of Contracts.

 The cheapest bid amounted to €83million. €30 million over the stipulated budget.  Transport Malta negotiated with the cheapest bidder, bringing the bill down to €50 million and saving the whole project.  All the negotiations were guided by the Department of Contracts and the public procurement rules in force at the time.

 

There were two public calls for the Coast Road. The tenders, CT 3077/2012 Road works in conjunction with the widening and reconstruction of Coast Road NA 8 to Magħtab and CT 3078/2012 Road works in conjunction with the widening and reconstruction of Coast Road from Maghtab to Commonwealth Cemetery were issued in February 2013.  This is all documented at the Department of Contracts.

 The cheapest bid amounted to €83million. €30 million over the stipulated budget.  Transport Malta negotiated with the cheapest bidder, bringing the bill down to €50 million and saving the whole project.  All the negotiations were guided by the Department of Contracts and the public procurement rules in force at the time.

Transport Malta saves €30million and the Coast Road Project. No EU funds lost.

Transport Malta refers to the various media reports regarding the European audit report by the European Court of Auditors recommending withholding of funds for the Coast Road project. 

The Authority clarifies the following:

• The Coast Road construction project tender was published on 19^th February 2013;

• The cheapest technically and administratively compliant bids submitted totalled circa €83 million;

• Transport Malta, under direct guidance and approval from the Director of Contracts, entered into a discussion procedure with the cheapest bidders to reduce the bid from €83 million to €53 million saving €30million and saving the project itself in the process. The entire procedure and methodology used was always pre-approved and under  the guidance of the Director of Contracts , and at no point was Transport Malta asked, directed or instructed not to proceed with the process;

• The adjudication procedure adopted is not a novelty and falls within the public procurement rules in force at that time. All public procurement procedures were strictly  adhered to and the entire evaluation process was under the continuous guidance of the Department of Contracts.

Final phases of asphalting for the Coast Road project

Photo by David Camilleri

Final phases of asphalting for the Coast Road project

Most of Triq il-Kosta has now been asphalted and is accessible. Vehicles can go from Salini all the way to Pembroke.

The last two layers of asphalt at the junction with the road leading to t’Alla w Ommu will be laid tomorrow and Thursday.  

There will be no access to and from t’Alla w Ommu tomorrow between 09.30hrs and 16:00hrs. Vehicles from Kennedy Drive will be diverted onto the new asphalted carriageway along the Salt Pans at Salini.

The same traffic diversion will be in place again on Thursday, between 9.30hrs and 20:00hrs.

We apologise for any inconvenience and remind all drivers to follow road signage and traffic regulations.

Public Transport

Route 222 – Ċirkewwa to Sliema via San Giljan shall still serve Xemxija.

Buġibba Junction works completed, area is accessible for vehicles

Scheduled Qawra-Bugibba-San Pawl il-Baħar Junction works completed, area is again accessible for all vehicles.

Work this morning proceeded at such a pace that the  junction was opened for all vehicles at 14.30 ahead of the announced 20:00 opening.  Completed works at this junction mean that another important milestone of The Coast Road project has been reached. 

Transport Malta thanks the Police for their invaluable help with traffic management, the workers for their commitment to the work at hand and the public for their patience.

Avoid Buġibba Junction tomorrow

Asphalting Works at Qawra/ Bugibba/ St. Paul’s Bay Junction

 Works will continue tomorrow, Saturday 3rd October, as planned.

The junction will be closed from 5am till 1pm (northbound) and 8pm (southbound).

The final layer of asphalt will be applied on the junction.  This phase is the most critical. Asphalting will be done during the day to ensure the best possible result. 

The timing of the works is in sync with the ongoing weekend activities in the area which require north bound access in the early evening and full access later on.

The junction will be closed to all traffic on Saturday 3^rd October 2015 at 5am.  

The northbound traffic will then be able to drive across this junction from 1pm onwards. 

Southbound traffic will in turn be granted access from 8pm onwards.

Drivers are urged to use alternative routes and avoid the area completely.  

Those drivers that need to access the area around this junction are kindly asked to follow the directions that they will be given around the works.

Works in Buġibba ahead of schedule, junction will remain accessible tonight.

Buġibba / Qawra junction 

Works ahead of schedule, junction will remain accessible tonight.

 Asphalting works at the Qawra junction were carried out last night. Works proceeded faster than originally planned. The contractor was able to complete the works which were scheduled to be carried out tonight as well.  Thus, the junction will remain open for vehicles tonight.

 

Works will continue on Saturday 3rd October, as planned.

The junction will be closed from 5am till 1pm (northbound) and 8pm (southbound)

The final layer of asphalt will be applied on the junction.  This phase is the most critical. Asphalting will be done during the day to ensure the best possible result.

The timing of the works is in sync with the ongoing weekend activities in the area which require north bound access in the early evening and full access later on.

The junction will be closed to all traffic on Saturday 3^rd October 2015 at 5am.  

The northbound traffic will then be able to drive across this junction from 1pm onwards. 

Southbound traffic will in turn be granted access from 8pm onwards.

Drivers are urged to use alternative routes and avoid the area completely.

Those drivers that need to access the area around this junction are kindly asked to follow the directions that they will be given around the works.

Asphalting of Qawra Buġibba Junction

File Photo – Photo by David Camilleri

Asphalting Works at Qawra/ Bugibba/ St. Paul’s Bay Junction

 

Works at the Bugibba / Qawra side of the Coast Road are also reaching their final phases and extensive asphalting works in the Qawra/ Bugibba/ St. Paul’s Bay junction are being planned for the coming Wednesday and Thursday nights as well as all day Saturday as follows: 

 

Wednesday Night – From 7pm till the following morning 6am

The junction will be closed to all traffic during the night between Wednesday 30^th September 2015 at 7pm and Thursday 1^st October 2015 at 6am.

Drivers are urged to use alternative routes and avoid the area completely.

Those drivers that need to access the area around this junction are kindly asked to follow the directions that they will be given around the works. 

 

Thursday Night – From 7pm till the following morning 6am

The junction will be closed to all traffic during the night between Thursday 1^st October 2015 at 7pm and Friday 2^nd October 2015 at 6am.

Drivers are urged to use alternative routes and avoid the area completely.

Those drivers that need to access the area around this junction are kindly asked to follow the directions that they will be given around the works.

 

Saturday – During the day from 5am till 1pm (northbound) and 8pm (southbound)

This will be the final phase of the asphalting works in the junction. It is deemed to be the most critical phase of the asphalting works and will be done during the day to ensure the best possible result due to the high visual inspection element of these works.

The timing of the works is also meant to be in sync with the ongoing weekend activities in the area which require north bound access in the early evening and full access later on.

The junction will be closed to all traffic on Saturday 3^rd October 2015 at 5am.  

The northbound traffic will then be able to drive across this junction from 1pm onwards. 

Southbound traffic will in turn be granted access from 8pm onwards.

Drivers are urged to use alternative routes and avoid the area completely.

Those drivers that need to access the area around this junction are kindly asked to follow the directions that they will be given around the works.

These works are approved by the Traffic Management Committee as best possible alternative after discussing different alternatives.

 Transport Malta reminds all drivers that the speed limit on this road and adjacent to all road works varies between 30 and 40km/h and that all motorists are obliged to follow signage and directions from the duty officers.

Most of Coast Road open for vehicles

Most of the Coast Road is open for vehicles

Transport Malta has opened the remaining stretches of carriageway at the Pembroke end of the Coast Road. The Coast Road from Pembroke up to the Salini area is fully asphalted.

 This remains a construction site with various ongoing finishing works. The prescribed speed limit remains 40km/hr and overtaking is prohibited.

Building a road while protecting heritage

 

Back in February, Transport Malta, together with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) discovered a series of Archeological Findings.

 

The architects and engineers have devised a way forward to continue building the road while protecting National heritage.

 

 

 

Coast Road Project in final phase

Final Phase for Coast Road Project commences today

As we have notified earlier this week, the final phase of the Coast Road project commences today.

 

May we remind the public that it will not be possible for cars to drive south through the road next to the Salt Pans. Southbound drivers will instead be diverted around the area through the t’Alla u Ommu road and then into Maghtab to join the nearly completed part of the Coast Road. The south bound traffic will now be using the same route which has been used by the northbound traffic for some time.

 

The prescribed diversion is the best alternative to avoid potential congestion in the Naxxar and Iklin intersections for those travelling south beyond these 2 villages.

 

Transport Malta would like to appeal once again for motorists to follow the signs vigilantly, use the southbound Coast Road through the Magħtab access road and to drive safely. This includes keeping to the national and local speed limits, no overtaking as well as showing courtesy to all the other road users.