The majority of extensive resurfacing works are carried out at night, while minor pothole repair is usually done during the day, a Transport Ministry representative told The Malta Independent.

This newsroom sent a number of questions relating to road works at night. The questions were sent after drivers complained with The Malta Independent that traffic problems were being compounded by decisions to carry out road works during the day, sometimes at peak hours.

 “This administration has introduced night works more effectively as a productive measure to mitigate against traffic congestion. This is primarily a policy when works are on the arterial and distributor road network, in order to avoid partial or full road closures as much as possible.”

The idea of road works on arterial roads at night is most welcome, given that morning and afternoon traffic is already a headache as it is today. This newsroom asked the Ministry to provide statistics in terms of percentages of road works occurring at night; however this information was not forthcoming.

Asked whether there was a differentiation when it came to road works organised by local councils, the ministry explained that all road works permits are issued by Transport Malta. The representative said that most local council road works are “on residential roads which may or may not entail heavy traffic. Therefore, the default for such works would be for them to occur during the  daytime, keeping in mind the residents who live in those areas.”