Emergency works in Santa Venera tunnels cause morning traffic jams
IM, TM say the works had to be carried overnight to ensure motorists' safety
Updated 3pm
Infrastructural work carried out in one of the Santa Venera tunnels which caused traffic jams stretching to the south of the island on Thursday morning needed to be carried out overnight to ensure motorists' safety.
Infrastructure Malta and Transport Malta said in a statement the emergency works in the northbound tunnel are expected to be completed by Friday morning.
Between Wednesday and Thursday, two layers of asphalt were stripped along the tunnel, before applying a base asphalt layer.
Since the road was reopened at 5am without the final asphalt layer, commuters had to drive through cautiously, leading to heavier-than-usual traffic, IM and TM said.
The work will continue on Thursday at 9pm and should be completed by Friday 5am.
On Thursday morning, traffic jams built up on most main roads in the south of Malta when traffic from both ways was diverted through one Santa Venera tunnel.
According to the Malta Roads Traffic Update website, Tal-Barrani Road and Vjal Santa Lucija, Triq Għajn Dwieli in Cospicua starting from near Verdala school were jammed with traffic continuing all the way to Marsa, Zabbar Road Fgura and surrounding areas.
A Google live map showing traffic congestion around the harbour area owing to works in the Sta Venera tunnels.