The south of Malta found itself in traffic gridlock on Tuesday morning after shoddy work by a contractor at the Santa Venera tunnel.

An Infrastructure Malta spokesman said that a contractor had cleared a water culvert in preparation for resurfacing works and then just covered it up with a steel plate, which then subsequently shifted with morning traffic – hence reducing the tunnel to a single lane.

Commuters reported traffic stretching all the way back to Marsa and then Tal-Barrani.

The spokesperson said that the agency had taken quick action to reopen both tunnel lanes but that it took time for traffic flow to be restored.

He said that the incident was regrettable because the agency had ensured that works were carried out at night so to minimise inconvenience.

Transport Malta have fined the contractor.

Photo: Malta Traffic Updates