Work on Gozo ferry quays moving at 'good' pace

Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said the Cirkewwa quays project, expected to cost Lm13 million, was moving ahead steadily in a bid to upgrade standards and strengthen the services offered to customers that cross the channel.

Dr Fenech Adami, who visited the site yesterday accompanied by Transport Minister Censu Galea and Malta Maritime Authority chairman Marc Bonello, said the project was going to provide state of the art infrastructure and the passenger terminal would offer adequate services and security.

Dr Fenech Adami praised the Maritime Authority for assuming responsibility for the project and ensuring that the work was being done according to high standards.

He stressed that the project was another effort to strengthen the country's infrastructure and it was also proof that the country was moving forward aiming for high standards and target standards of excellence.

It is estimated that over Lm5 million have been spent so far on the project.

Dr Bonello said work on the project was moving ahead at a good pace. The extension to the breakwater will be completed this year.

"I envisage all seaborne work to be completed this year. Work had to slow down because of the bad weather that prevailed this winter.

"We believe that once the bad weather is over, the pace of work will be maintained in order to complete the job related to the breakwater this year and to complete the work on land, including the work on the terminus in Cirkewwa and Mgarr, next year."

Dr Bonello said that overall the work on the project was "on target".

The work done so far involved the upgrading of the existing quays, land reclamation for the building of the sea passenger terminal, extension of quay one and the rebuilding of quay two at Mgarr Harbour and traffic management work.

A few months ago a new berth was completed by the Maritime Authority as part of this project.

The new berth had marked the completion of phase 1B of the project, which also includes the construction of a berth at Comino and land reclamation of over 11,000 square metres.

The land reclamation, backfilled to 2.1 metres above sea level, will be used to provide better marshalling and car parking facilities at Cirkewwa.

The extension of the existing Cirkewwa berth, once completed, would enable the Gozo ferries to moor in all weather conditions.

Three million passengers and over three quarters of a million vehicles use the terminal each year.