Skid-resistant tarmac laid on two tight bends in Marina Road, Pietà appears to have warped and ‘melted’.

The tarmac was laid on two bends which normally see a large amount of crashes due to the slippery surface, particularly in winter.

The road surface started to warp soon after the tarmac was laid, reducing traction on the bends and proving a danger to motorcycles in particular as the worst of the damage was in the middle of the bend where riders are at full lean.

The problem was worse on the Valletta-bound lane, where the tarmac warped into clumps, severely reducing grip and stability.

The road markings fared no better, as they soon started to fade and stretch.

The markings in the Valletta-bound lane are no longer visible, while those in the Msida-bound lane are on their last legs. Temporary remedial action was taken to even out the surface in the Valletta-bound lane, yet until yesterday no fresh tarmac had been laid.

The newly laid surface is clearly failing and the contractor has acknowledged the problem

Contacted by the Times of Malta, a spokesperson for Transport Malta said that the road was resurfaced using a relatively new technology called micro-surfacing. This is meant to create a layer which protects the underlying structure and reduces maintenance costs.

“Such interventions have been proven to be very cost effective and are on the increase in countries with developed infrastructure,” the spokesman said.

The spokesperson said micro-surfacing was normally used to enhance the skid resistance and water sealing of roads when they were still structurally sound.

Despite this, the tarmac laid in Marina Road appears to have had the opposite effect.

Transport Malta said it was aware of the problem and assured that remedial action was being taken.

“The newly laid surface is clearly failing and the contractor has acknowledged the problem with his supply. He, in turn, is in consultation with his foreign supplier to understand the root cause of the situation.

“In the meantime he has already carried out a number of interventions to keep the road in a safe state,” the spokesman said.

Transport Malta has not made any payments to date for the botched works. It expected the contractor to rectify the matter or return the road to its original state at no extra cost, the spokesman said.

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