Rather than merely patching up individual potholes, the Malta Transport Authority is repairing 23 pitted roads around the island by re-laying the tarmac.

The extensive patching work, estimated to cost €500,000, started on Friday and is expected to be concluded on Sunday "weather permitting", the manager within the authority's road maintenance unit, architect Edric Micallef, said.

As the recent heavy rains caused potholes to mushroom, the government allocated a €500,000 budget over and above the €220,000 awarded through tenders for extensive patching works carried out in October, he said.

As Mr Micallef supervised works on the Birkirkara bypass yesterday, he said this week's works did not involve the actual rebuilding of the roads. Building a road cost about €50 per square metre, while repair works cost €12 for the same stretch.

Architect Lorraine Cassar, who works in Mr Micallef's unit, explained that when cold asphalt is used to fill potholes, it often comes apart as it is not very adhesive.

In the works underway, hot asphalt, which is more adhesive, is being used. The tarmac is being removed and the road surface is then cleaned, coated in a substance that maximises adhesion and the hot asphalt laid and steamrolled.

Three roads were laid over the weekend: Mosta Road in Lija, San Anard Road in Bulebel and one carriageway of Triq is-Sebħ in Qormi.

Meanwhile, yesterday, as the works on the bypass progressed in the afternoon, one frustrated driver put down his window and shouted: "Why don't you do these works at night?" An authority official who was present explained that in certain areas where there were no residents, works had indeed been carried out at night, but there were people living on the outskirts of the bypass.