Infrastructure Malta is to introduce more temporary lanes after the closure of the main road between Pietà and Floriana caused traffic havoc on Monday.

Triq l-Indipendenza was closed for maintenance works, creating gridlock  around the central part of Malta. One motorist reported that it took almost 90 minutes to get from Mosta to Msida on Monday morning. The bus service also reported considerable delays. 

The roads agency had announced the works last week, saying the lanes would be closed until August 11 for maintenance and resurfacing. 

A spokesman for Infrastructure Malta told Times of Malta said Malta Public Transport (which operates the bus service) and Transport Malta had been consulted about the works and temporary arrangements and had approved them.

But the traffic arrangements are now being revisited.

“After further discussions held today, improvements to the approved traffic management plan, namely the opening of additional temporary lanes, will be implemented in the coming hours,” the spokesman said.

“Infrastructure Malta will continue to cooperate with all relevant authorities to minimise such inconveniences in delivering these road improvement projects,” he added.

No further details about the new lanes were given. 

However, Infrastructure Malta in a statement on Monday evening explained that this was the final phase of the maintenance project between Floriana and Pietà.

"After resurfacing the lane in the direction to Valletta last year, in the past few weeks the agency completed necessary works on underground services, including strengthening of a new anti-flooding in these areas and new electricity cables.

"In the coming days, Infrastructure Malta will complete this project by strengthening the foundations of the lane in the direction of Tal-Pietà and re-paving it with asphalt."

It said that the works that started on Monday are planned to be finished by the end of this week, while the entire project is planned to be completed before August 11.

Works timed not to clash with mass events

"The works being carried out by the agency in this street and its surroundings have been planned for after the school season and also not to clash with mass activities that were scheduled throughout the past few weeks on the Floriana Granaries," it said.

The works will be carried out at all hours of the day and night in order to be completed within the scheduled period.