The Mepa board has approved re-development of the Victoria Bus Terminus in Gozo as part of the reform of public transport.

The project will include major landscaping works, the creation of a covered walkway and the construction of a terminal building on the current site.

The terminal building will have an area of approximately 63sq.m. The back elevation of the building, leading to the parking area, will be landscaped. The building will consist of a single storey and will house sanitary facilities, an information area, and an office. A reservoir will be housed underneath the Terminal Building.

The walkway will have a total length of 45m, a span of 4.5m and a maximum height of 3.7m above pavement level. It will be constructed using a galvanized steel rail, finished in blue, whilst the top part will be clad using reinforced polycarbonate cladding.

Six protected Holm Oak- Quercus ilex and 24 Ficus will be transplanted on site. Four protected Cypress trees will be uprooted.

The terminus will have three boarding bays, a number of alighting bays and two parking spaces for buses - in line with the current transport strategy that aims at doing away with large termini and having a system of short lay-overs thus requiring less space for buses not in service.

The board, which met this morning, also gave the go-ahead for the new Barrakka lift (see separate story), a new school and car park at Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Boys Junior Lyceum, in Tal-Handaq, Qormi and the addition of sports facilities to compliment the new Mosta government school at Zokrija, Mosta.