Rome faces a potential pothole
crisis following the expiry of road maintenance contracts on
October 1, sources said Wednesday.
The process to award new contracts is underway.
"The procedures for assigning new contracts are ongoing and
it will not be possible to ensure continuity in road monitoring,
rapid intervention and maintenance services," the urban
maintenance department said.
Insurance cover for eventual damage sustained as a result
of the potholes will be provided by Assicurazioni di Roma Spa.
The halt in road maintenance services comes at a critical
time for the city as it prepares to welcome millions of pilgrims
for the special Jubilee on Mercy starting December 8 amid a
political and institutional crisis that saw the city mayor
Ignazio Marino step down over an expenses scandal last week
after months of pressure from his own Democratic Party (PD) and
the opposition.
Expiry of the road maintenance contract means Rome's
municipal police are "powerless" to intervene when holes open up
in the roads, while the present heavy rainfall "could aggravate
everything", the Ospol-Csa union reprensenting the force said.
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