Fortunately for Maltese taxpayers, Fratelli Basilotta, the Italian contractors responsible for the work will be footing the bill, sources explained, adding that there is no contestation. The road was scheduled to be opened officially shortly.

The authority ordered the contractor to replace the wearing course, which is the road’s topmost layer of tarmac, following an inspection by one of its engineers in which the road failed the quality check.

The asphalt work was concluded some six weeks ago. In fact the road was being fitted with street lighting and other finishing touches. The process is expected to cost somewhere in the region of Lm16,000.

Basilotta contractors were awarded a third of the work listed under the Lm12 million protocol agreement last June and were the only one of three such Italian contractors which did not immediately rope in Maltese subcontractors to help with the job.

Contacted for comment, a spokesman for the Urban Development and Road Ministry said that despite the hitch the road is expected to be opened during the next weekend as planned.

Despite the fact that the work on these roads is moving at a fast pace the ministry and the ADT are keeping a close watch on the quality of the work and are not accepting any compromise, Mr Pace insisted.