Minister sets 2012 completion date for Cirkewwa project
Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt has given 2012 as the date of completion of improvements at Cirkewwa ferry harbour.
Replying to a question in Parliament by Labour MP Anton Refalo, the minister said temporary facilities will be built next year to vacate the space needed for the permanent works.
The temporary facilities will include a shelter for passengers, a police station, public convenience, road markings, barriers and railings. Tenders will be issued early next year.
The next phase will then include the building of a new passenger terminal, gangways to the ferries, new pavements, parking areas, the completion of the North Quay Berth 3, improvement to the ro-ro ramp , passenger shelter facilities on the south quay and other refurbishment.
The project is expected to be completed in 2012.
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Anthony Mizzi
Oct 27th 2009, 22:55
bil bidu, bla tmiem, u nasal biex nahseb illi kieku l'affarijiet jimxu kif suppost u b'ghaqalu f'pajjiz fejn hemm ir-responsabilita u t-trasparenza, kien jinbena pont u mhux terminal u jqum inqas......
Galea. L
Oct 27th 2009, 22:16
Anthony Castillo
I didn't say Gonzi's government is going to last that long. You should be ashamed to name those projects that always cost several times their estimates and finished (when finished) years and years after their target date apart from allegations of corruption. Belvederes all around the island? Isn't Valletta Waterfront a private project? If OPN had to build Valletta it would still be at the foundations stage. Get real my friend. PN apologists are unbelievable to what lengths they go to defend the indefensible Gonzi. That's why Gonzi is going to lose the next general election in quite a short time.
Manuel Scicluna
Oct 27th 2009, 22:04
I just don't believe you Dr Gatt...
A. Grech
Oct 27th 2009, 21:13
And when are the projects of TA’ PINU ROAD, XLENDI ROAD and RUNDLE GARDENS going to be completed. These too were promised years and years ago to be completed and yet we are still waiting for them to start. And you dear minister want us to believe you. Come on now Minist, stop this b……
Joseph Calleja
Oct 27th 2009, 19:33
Minister Gatt, prove us all wrong and have this terminal built and finished in 2010. Anything is possible if need be, just want to see the Cirkewwa Ferry Building finished in my lifetime, then maybe we can start on the bridge.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Oct 27th 2009, 19:33
An excerpt from ‘Business Times’ 6 Feb. 2002.“Cirkewwa terminal works on schedule
Works on site are expected to start towards the end of May 2002
Following the approval by the Planning Authority of the building of the Passenger Terminal, car park and the marshalling areas at Mgarr Harbour, the Malta Maritime Authority is focusing its operations on the Passenger Terminal and marshalling area at Cirkewwa.
As such, it is expected that the Planning Authority will issue the permit for the construction of the Cirkewwa Terminal/Car Park in the next few weeks.
Touring the site recently, Transportation and Communications Minister Censu Galea explained, "Last year, the Malta Maritime Authority finalised works on Phase 1A of the project, whilst during this month the Authority has successfully completed Phase 1B as scheduled.’’
The works on Phase, 1A which commenced in July 2000, included the reclamation of an area of 11,500 square metres to provide better marshalling and carparking facilities at Cirkewwa. Works on the first phase of the extension of Berth number 1 at Mgarr have also been completed. This extension will help provide better berthing facilities in Gozo for the new ferries................”
Anthony Mizzi
Oct 27th 2009, 18:20
Now that we know when it will be completed : ) , can information be provided on
When it started or laying of the first stone inaugurated?
How much funds or taxpayer money have been voted and already spent?
The original , envisaged cost when tender / tenders where issued?
The "envisaged" total cost on "envisioned" completion?
Will it break the Mater Dei record- timewise?
Patrick Pace
Oct 27th 2009, 17:19
Lanqas il-piramidi ma damu daqsekk biex jinbnew.
Albert Grech
Oct 27th 2009, 16:48
Tafu Tisthu,progett li suppost ilu lest snin.
Muscat Pat
Oct 27th 2009, 15:56
By that time the chicken fence rounding Cirkewwa half finished terminal will rot away; this is what I call oportunity cost!
John Micallef
Oct 27th 2009, 15:52
I wonder how he has the face to critisize MR Mugliett.
He better apologised forthis heft delay??
And when is the Gozo terminal going to be ready??
Eh the 'Par idej sodi!!'
vergogna
Anthony Castillo
Oct 27th 2009, 15:45
@GALEA L.That's a gourantee that we are goinng to last the 31/2 years to go becouse we don't have any trators in our GOVERMENT like DOM.We choose things with priority like we did AIRPORT,THE MGARR GOZO TERMINAL, THE STATE OF THE ART MATER DEI HOSPITAL,THE FREE PORT,ALL THE SENIOR CIZTEZIN HOMES,THE VALLETTA WATEFRONT'ALL THE BELVEDERS AROUND THE ISLAND ,THE PWER STATION OF DELIMARA AND SO ON BECOSE IF I KEEP ON GOING I NEED 2000 WORDS NOT 200TO FINISH AT LEAST PART OF WHAT WE DID AS INFRACFRUCTURE AND BIG PROJECTS IN THE ISLAND MY FRIEND.
Martin Mercieca
Oct 27th 2009, 15:17
As the Maltese saying goes: Hozza fl-ilma, ja poplu Malti. Minister Gatt, the PM and his govenment have long lost all their credibility with the general public.
Joseph Calleja
Oct 27th 2009, 15:07
Alleluia, amen, about time, is all I can say. Not to seem too overbearing, but this project should have been started and finished long time ago, but thank God for small favours. I hope Minister Gatt keeps his promise and starts this project immediately. Cirkewwa needs a decent Ferry Terminal with the right conveniences in it to accommodate the ferry passengers. A nice waiting area with a nice coffee shop or shops (airport style, but not as expensive) would be very welcome and of course decent public rest rooms that hold tp??????. Minister Gatt, any chance of installing a safety railing along the Marfa/Cirkewwa promenade? Just asking!
JMicallef
Oct 27th 2009, 15:01
@ Joe Camilelri - that was good! :-)
I think there's a typo - should read 2021!!!!
g.c.Forte
Oct 27th 2009, 14:51
....................................... ANY BETS ?
Edward Zammit
Oct 27th 2009, 14:47
When modern machinery and heavy plant equipment was unheard of, the eiffle tower took 22 months to finish, less then 5 years for the Golden Gate and 5 years to build the Valletta fortifications...But it took almost 13 years to build Mater Dei Hospital and so far over 8 years on this project and Minister Gatt comes in Parliament cool as ever, telling us about 2012 as the completion year...What's in a date?
For all the Tax payers, just a note of consolation ROME WASN'T BUILT IN DAY...
God forbid the commencement of works on the Valletta project...We rather have the ruins of once the Opera house, than ending up with our Capital City - A building site for long years to come. Amen
Simon J Xuereb
Oct 27th 2009, 14:28
God knows how many subscripts, disclaimers and extentions they have. Phase, 1A commenced in July 2000; it will take us 12 long years. if we are lucky.
By contrast Kansai International Airport took 7 years.
Manuel Zammit
Oct 27th 2009, 14:08
I suggest that, in these major projects, a billboard is erected on site and in plain view to the public, showing the planned date of completion and the estimated cost of the project. A daily countdown of the days remaining to that date will serve as a daily reminder of their goal to project managers and all the people working on the site. It will hopefully also serve to remind everyone involved to keep to the deadlines and to the budget.
I Falzon
Oct 27th 2009, 14:02
i'd say 2102
R.Gauci
Oct 27th 2009, 13:45
At least they didn't showed the usual plant how the project will look when it will be finished to tease people!! What I mean is how the authorities keep spending millions of euros on plans,experts reports etc. of new projects example the regenaration of the Marsa Menqa into a Marina( which will be definetely a good think if it happens) when you have an important project like this in Cirkewwa hanging back for so much years becuase of lack of finances!! Can some of the usual bloggers explain me please??!! People are fed up of seeing the chaos created by passengers and vehicles while trying to going in or coming out of the ferry !!
n. saliba
Oct 27th 2009, 13:39
Hozzu fl-ilma!!!
laurence schembri
Oct 27th 2009, 13:27
Tell me another Austin. St. Elmo for Craft Village? No. One Dock for Liners? Confused to say the least.
Galea. L
Oct 27th 2009, 13:03
Just in time before the general election?
If the Gonzi government lasts that long.
v mercieca
Oct 27th 2009, 12:58
I guess this is another Mater Dei in miniutre. I believe it when I see it ready.
Edward Fenech
Oct 27th 2009, 12:48
X'efficenza!
J.Camilleri
Oct 27th 2009, 12:42
Please.onor. Gatt, make sure that the Cirkewwa project will be ready at least before the 21st December of 2012 so as we Maltese and Gozitans will see it ready: for in that date, the sun, the black hole of our galaxy and the earth will be inperfect alignment and that means the end of our world. Or so are scientists saying. So don't let about another ten years for the project to be ready!
Joe Camilleri
Oct 27th 2009, 12:29
2012, they say it is also the end of the world
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_phenomenon