A French regional government goes to Norman Foster. But Malta goes to China.
This is the Millau bridge in southern France, which was designed by Norman Foster, and opened to traffic in 2004. The project cost 394 million euros and took several years to complete.
It faced a great deal of objection, as these things generally do, but is now acknowledged as a tremendous piece of architecture and engineering.
It is stunningly beautiful, the French having an instinctive understanding of how things must not be merely functional. That is why Norman Foster’s design was picked from among other proposals.
But Malta, in its plans for a bridge between the two main islands, has gone straight to China – that bastion of creativity, innovative architecture and structural engineering. Why go to a big-name architect and get a thing of beauty which won’t collapse, when you can get a deal with a Chinese-dictatorship-owned company that has been blacklisted by the World Bank for corrupt practices?
The bridge will have to pass over Comino. I’ve uploaded this map because not many people seem to understand that. So you’re sunbathing on Comino, or taking it easy on your boat in this nature conservation site, and lorries full of produce and cars full of day-trippers are whizzing by overhead while you get to look at the underside of a bridge that wasn’t designed by Norman Foster.
And where’s the money coming from, anyway, if we can’t even afford the next round of local council elections?
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Is this incompetence or were they just being creative?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10995174/China-gets-wooden-spoon-for-right-angled-running-track.html
“China, that bastion of creativity, innovative architecture and structural engineering”
and safety
http://www.independent.com.mt/mobile/2014-07-21/news/blacklisted-chinese-bridge-building-company-has-history-of-backhander-deals-5915475969/
The finance model China uses in countries with low to non-existent resistsnce to corruption is to advance a loan which is repayable by giving China a long-term concession over the structure it builds charging for its use, and guaranteed by another national asset that’s useful to China’s long-term interest.
After the way we treated Renzo Piano, I doubt any world-class architect will want to have anything to do with Malta.
No, no, the Chinese bridge will blend. Over Comino the pylons will be cladded with faux ‘tas-sejjieħ’.
What about the Blue Lagoon? Won’t it – and its status as a tourist attraction – be affected by the bridge?
A bridge, even a beautiful one, will destroy Comino as we know it. Imagine a pylon sticking up to support an overlying structure. It won’t be a delicate thing.
It’s insane to even consider a bridge considering the destruction of the environment and the cost. And what for? To appease a few people? I doubt that even all the 31,000 gozitans want it and Gozo would simply become an extension of Malta losing the very reason why people go there and spend money in the first place. Why not improve the ferry service so that it is more frequent? With the type of money needed to build a bridge, surely a few more ferries can be bought, staffed and operated?
I cannot agree more. Prosit. Għawdex tispiċċa l-karatteristika tiegħu.
Starts at 4:30.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXczwwtwY0M
Meantime, everywhere in China.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YWkmEBZgLs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQotYmcBgFQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYK_8Nfr3JA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8QwGdEBOeg
Why bother to go to China and risk corruption when you can do it from the safety of your own country
‘Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett has denied any kind of relationship with his professional partner architect Robert Sant’s company, which was awarded the project management work in connection with the re-building of the Manwel Dimech Bridge.
In September, Sant’s firm applied for more than Lm150,000 in additional payments in connection with the Manwel Dimech Bridge management contract. This means that the contract, which originally was Lm169,000, will cost over Lm300,000 if the demand is approved.’
http://archive.maltatoday.com.mt/2007/11/25/n7.html
They seem to run out of bolts. This one’s hilarious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXdGAfHhT3w
No worry. Crowds of police officers and traffic wardens to put the thing back in place in next to no time.
That’s competence – and public spirit for you.
The bottom line is, in a meeting held before the election the PM will say:
Kemm ilhom jghidu fuq il-powerstation!? Imma ahna ghamilniha (clap, clap, clap and horns)
Kemm ilhom jghidu fuq il-bridge?! Imma ahna ghamilnieh (clap, clap, clap and horns)
Etc, etc.
Ahna ghamilnieha is all that matters. X se jigri wara u kif sar mhux importanti. Ghax “dejjem se ssib xi hadd li ma jaqbilx mieghek.”
Imbaghad fil-kabina wahdu il-votant, jaghmel number 1.
Let’s all hope that this project, whether by the Chinese or anyone else, will never materialize.
Who is to benefit from it? If it is the Gozitans, than let them put up the money themselves. I’m sure they have it tucked away, far away from the eyes of the taxman.
Has the effect of an eventual influx of Gozitans in Malta been taken in consideration?
This, coupled with the irregular immigrants, will be too much for our economy.
To top it all we will, as you rightly say, be ruining Comino.
Is all this worth it?
I’m sure the Gozitans would prefer to be offered work in Gozo itself. On the other hand we Maltese would be happier to see that they stay there.
Don’t we have enough problems with all these foreigners who are living in Malta?
They all think that they are better off than us. So let them stay there and enjoy it.
.
Amazing insight!
Do you mean that “Xoghol f’Ghawdex ghal-Ghawdxin” was another part of the “push back” policy?
A few things are being over-looked here. First and foremost is whether the Maltese people want a fixed link between Malta and Gozo or not. The reasons for such opinions could vary, starting from the financial aspect to the environmental one. Secondly, if a fixed link is agreed upon in principle, it should be determined what type of link should it be, ie: whether it is a bridge or a tunnel. Thirdly, and from a personal point of view I find this as the most important aspect, the environmental impact should be given its importance.
There is no longer any government corruption in China because 4000 are executed annually for government corruption or rape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEd17taOrmA
That isn’t China getting rid of corruption. That’s Xi Jinping’s network getting rid of the competition.
Don’t worry too much about that bridge – it won’t be happening any time soon.
It is just a vote catching ploy and an excuse to create reports which in turn compound interests.
This is quite similar to Chris Said’s tunnel vision.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10995174/China-gets-wooden-spoon-for-right-angled-running-track.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOAcRrfW-8s
Daphne,
I’m really surprised that you of all people might even get the slightest semblance of an idea that this bridge will ever materialize.
Does anyone even understand what a daily flow of traffic would be needed to make such a project worthwhile? I don’t think that the Chinese are going to give it to us gratis.
I believe the PN administration had commissioned a feasibility study which found that the traffic flow needed to run into the thousands daily over a period of 30 years.
This means that bridge users would be required to pay a hefty toll to cross between the islands.
My idea is that we are too small to necessitate such a gargantuan project and I only see it as simply an image booster for a failing political ideology.
Even the Chinese themselves go to England and other European companies to get their buildings designed.
They’ve just gone to Chetwood Architects of London to design for them what will be the two tallest buildings on the plant.
I think Gozo might be Atlantis.
(They’re both myths.)
Silvio what makes think that the Gozitans will flock to Malta if ever the bridge is built? They never did and never will do. It will be the other way around as it already is
These are the standards we’re talking about!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10995174/China-gets-wooden-spoon-for-right-angled-running-track.html
How can you compare the south of France and Malta. The south of France is full of culture, has a magnificent lifestyle, there’s lush vegetation everywhere..
Malta should leave the EU and join Africa.
I think that many Maltese people don’t understand why very often countries contract foreign architects for such projects. In this case, a shortage of world-class architects is not the reason – France is full of them.
Speaking of Asian bridges.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2708268/Jeremy-Clarksons-slope-bridge-comment-Burma-Top-Gear-special-WAS-racist-Ofcom-rules.html