Ferry passengers to Gozo this weekend will be using a new marshalling area at the Mgarr terminal.

With work on the marshalling area - where cars queue up before boarding the ferry - concluded, work on the terminal building will start next week.

The chairman of the Malta Maritime Authority, Marc Bonello said the work was expected to be completed by next March.

Work on the Cirkewwa terminal will restart after summer and is expected to be finished by June 2007, Dr Bonello said. Work on both terminals is expected to cost about Lm14.5 million.

Work is also underway on the 180-car underground car park, beneath the marshalling area.

Gozo Channel chairman Joseph Borg said the company was still looking into methods of payment for use of the car park.

Speaking during a media tour of the terminal, Dr Bonello said the second phase of the project will include the building of the terminal and the gangways, which will allow passengers and vehicles to board the ferries from separate paths as well as some road works and the final works on a second ramp.

Both Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono and Communications Minister Censu Galea hailed the project as important for Gozo, particularly since thousands of Gozitan workers and students cross the channel every day.

Ms Debono said work on the road leading from Mgarr to Victoria will start in the coming weeks.

Referring to a separate road that will be used by cars arriving on the ferry and leaving the terminal, Mr Galea said this would bring to an end the confusion when there are cars waiting to board and those alighting.

Mr Galea said that although work on the terminal will start next week, the foundations, some of which are nine-floors high, have been completed. The minister said plans were revisited last year, but time-frames have been respected. Referring to changes in the cost estimates, Mr Galea said costings are made according to the plans at hand, adding that as the plans were changed more than once to improve the facilities, so had the cost.