The transport watchdog said yesterday it would be carrying out works in Marina Road, Pietà, following reports in this newspaper that the skid-resistant tarmac had warped into clumps.

Transport Malta said the road would be closed to traffic tomorrow and Monday between 8pm and 5am, with drivers urged to seek alternative routes. The tarmac was laid on two bends earlier this year in an attempt to cut down on the number of car crashes there.

Soon after the tarmac was laid, however, the road surface began to warp, with motorcyclists in particular being forced to manoeuvre dangerously, as the damage was in the middle of the bend, where riders are at full lean.

The problem was worse in the Valletta-bound lane, where the tarmac warped into clumps, which  severely reduced its grip and stability.

The tarmac was laid on two bends earlier this year in an attempt to cut down on the number of car crashes there

A Transport Malta spokesperson told this newspaper that the road was resurfaced using a relatively new technology called micro-surfacing. This was meant to create a layer that protected the underlying structure and reduced maintenance costs.

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.

Tarmac laid near the airport’s entrance has similarly warped and failed, with the Transport Malta spokesperson confirming that the tarmac was laid by the same contractor who carried out the works in Marina Road.