The new road surface at The Ferries, in Sliema, was damaged and had to be redone because Transport Malta allowed buses and other heavy vehicles to pass over the fresh asphalt, the contractor who carried out the work insisted yesterday.

V&C Contractors Ltd said it had carried out the remedial work but would be billing Transport Malta for the job.

The contractor was reacting to a story published in The Times on Monday entitled Roadworks At Sliema Ferries Redone At Contractor's Expense.

The contractor said the road, which was asphalted in December, had to be redone because Transport Malta allowed heavy vehicles to drive over the hot asphalt soon after it had been laid.

Moreover, the contractor continued in the letter, Transport Malta representatives ordered it to go ahead with the laying of asphalt in rainy conditions even though he had advised that the rain would have cooled the hot asphalt quicker and that this would have affected the durability of the asphalt.

When asked why the stretch was being redone just a few months after it had been asphalted, a spokesman for Malta Transport had said this was because "the asphalt used was of sub-standard quality".

The spokesman continued: "At an estimated cost of €20,000, remedial works were carried out between Monday 22 and Tuesday February 23, 2010 at the contractor's expense." (Part in bold in original replies from Transport Malta)

But the contractor yesterday refuted this claim and the allegations made by Transport Malta in reply to questions by The Times.

He said the article gave the impression that remedial work was carried out because he was accepting responsibility for the damage and without claim against Transport Malta.

Through their lawyer, Massimo Vella, the contractor said: "V&C Contractors Ltd will be claiming against Transport Malta for payment relative to the remedial works and should Transport Malta refute the claim, the matter will be taken to court."

Questions sent to Transport Malta and the Transport Ministry to react to the contractor's claims remained unanswered.

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