Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545950
GozoToday is a weekly newspaper focused primarily on Gozo. It hopes to serve as a source of information on business, culture, entertainment and of course current affairs. Gozo has a special charm about it but it is also a bustling Island with an identity of its own. GozoToday is published every Friday and is available to numerous outlets in Gozo and on the ferries that carry so many visitors to Gozo from Malta and beyond. GozoToday MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 9016 DEPUTY EDITOR: LAURA CALLEJA Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt 3 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 24 JULY 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The NSO said vehicle depar- tures from Mġarr were busi- est on Sundays and Mondays, while passenger traffic peaked on Saturdays and Sundays. From Ċirkewwa, both vehi- cle and passenger traffic were heaviest towards the end of the week, with Friday and Saturday recording the highest volumes. In contrast, the fast ferry ser- vice between Mġarr and Vallet- ta registered declines across all key indicators. The route car- ried 319,535 passengers during the second quarter, down 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025, while the number of trips fell by 4.7% to 2,589. June recorded the highest number of fast ferry sailings, with 949 trips, although April remained the busiest month for passengers, with 109,469 travellers. Passenger numbers on the Gozo Highspeed routes serv- ing Sliema and Buġibba were stronger in June than in May. During the quarter, operators carried 25,430 passengers on the Sliema–Mġarr route and 24,755 passengers in the oppo- site direction, making them the busiest of the four services. The Buġibba–Mġarr and Mġarr– Buġibba routes each carried just under 13,800 passengers during the same period. The NSO figures indicate continued growth in demand for the conventional Gozo Channel service despite a de- cline in passenger numbers on the Valletta fast ferry route. The Mgarr-Valletta Fast Ferry service registered decline in second quarter, NSO reveals CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The minister said a further 70% of works have been completed on the stretch between the Grazzja Bridge and Ta' Mena, while the final section, extending from the end of the project to the entrance of Wied Marsalforn, is 57% com- plete. Camilleri said works on the re- maining stretch between Ta' Me- na and the entrance to Wied Mar- salforn will begin once the road is temporarily reopened to two-way traffic. The project, which covers more than three kilometres of road, is currently being carried out simul- taneously at various locations. Construction is ongoing on the left-hand carriageway between Wied tal-Grazzja and Ta' Mena, while works are also taking place on both carriageways between the Marsalforn valley diversion and the Reef Hotel. The minister said the first layer of asphalt is expected to be laid in these sections over the com- ing weeks as road reconstruction and the installation of new un- derground services reach an ad- vanced stage. Additional utility works requested by various public entities are also being carried out alongside the road project. Camilleri also confirmed that the government intends to reopen the road temporarily to traffic in both directions in the coming weeks to improve accessibility to and from Marsalforn while construction continues. The update was provided in response to Tabone's request for a progress report on the pro- ject, including the percentage of works completed, the expected completion date, and whether the government intended to restore two-way traffic before the project is fully finished. The Marsalforn road project has caused signifi- cant disruption to residents, busi- nesses and motorists over recent months, with traffic currently re- stricted for sections of the route as reconstruction works continue. Reporting by Laura Calleja 70% of works have been completed on the stretch between the Grazzja Bridge and Ta' Mena Road works back in March 2026 The Marsalforn Road in 2021 Gozo Fast Ferry service