Infrastructure Malta has ordered the contractor who surfaced Triq Ġorġ Borg Olivier in Rabat to resurface it because it did not meet their standards.

The street, which is one of the key routes to the Tal-Virtu area of Rabat, Dingli and Buskett, was reconstructed last year, at a cost of €1 miliion as part of a plan to upgrade the quality of Malta's roads.

But after it was resurfaced, inspectors from Infrastructure Malta found that the new surface "did not reach our quality standards" and that the contractor, RR Malta JV, would lay new asphalt at its own expense, around €83,000.

Works will be completed by Friday evening and the road reopened, the agency added. 

The contractor was ordered to resurface the road because it did not meet their quality standards. Picture: Infrastructure Malta/ Facebook

"In Gorg Borg Olivier Street, Infrastructure Malta noted that the topmost asphalt surface was immediately showing signs of chipping loss, which leads to rapid wear and other defects," a spokesman said.

"The laboratory tests confirmed that the asphalt mix was not in line with the applicable standards." 

The 1km stretch of Triq Ġorġ Borg Olivier is a key road in Rabat, cutting across the town's southern side. The road had previously been re-opened in December following months of work.