(Adds statement by Education Ministry + final update from Transport Malta)
No one was injured but there was traffic chaos in the central and south part of Malta this afternoon when the arm of an excavator crashed into a foot bridge in Aldo Moro Road , Marsa as it was being driven towards Valletta. The accident happened at about 12.45 p.m.
The road was initially closed to traffic in both directions and people were not being allowed to use the bridge, which was damaged.
Eventually Transport Malta reopened the south bound carriageway to vehicular traffic after engineers inspected the bridge.
Two lanes on the four-lane northbound carriageway were opened at around 5.10 p.m. .The other two lanes were opened at around 9 p.m.
Transport Malta said the road was opened following the completion of temporary works to part of the pedestrian footbridge that sustained damage.
The footbridge is, however, being kept closed for pedestrians for the time being.
The authority said that its civil engineers will, next week, draw up a works programme to carry out permanent works on the part of the bridge that was damaged.
The accident saw hundreds of motorists locked in traffic jams for hours. Some missed flights, other missed hospital appointments, or exams. Students, particularly from De La Salle College, arrived home hours after they left school.
The Education Ministry said that a number of students missed a Matsec examination because they got stuck in the traffic jams.
Those who missed the exam were to be informed of another date when they would be able to sit for it.
ACCESS TO PUTTINU CARES MARATHON HAMPERED
Due to this accident access to the Puttinu Cares Marathon has been hampered.
An alternative route has been published by the organisers on