Motorists will breathe in a sigh of relief today as Vjal Millbrae in Mosta will be opened a day ahead of schedule after causing temperatures to rise among drivers over the past few days because of road works.

Works were being carried out along the major thoroughfare between Mosta and Burmarrad, causing havoc as motorists tried to navigate the many diversions.

Despite newspaper warnings of the possible impeding confusion, thousands of motorists were stuck in traffic jams as the road was closed at the peak of the tourist season.

On Saturday, the police closed off Burmarrad Road at Burmarrad church while, at the other end, cars were diverted to Naxxar.

The Network Infrastructure Directorate of the Malta Transport Authority announced yesterday that the road will be opening a day earlier than scheduled.

The road was only closed in its entirety to traffic and public transport between Saturday and yesterday for safety reasons, due to the deep excavation of a trench for the laying of sewer mains and the laying of asphalt, the authority said.

It added that works were even carried out until late in the evening and on Sunday so as to limit the inconvenience to the public and a special, circular, free-of-charge public transport service was organised for Burmarrad residents.