The Ministry for Gozo has said in a statement today that the door, which is positioned in the large archway at the Citadel, cost. € 398,443.

The archway was opened in Cathedral square in 1956. The aim of the door is return the appearance of the Citadel bastions to as it was in the 1950s, before the opening was made.

The Ministry for Gozo said the new door was built by Camray Co Ltd , with its contractor UK Loco Ltd in England, after winning the bid, and under a contract signed together with the Contracts Department.

It is made up of a mixture of several materials. The door frame is in iron, and the door itself contains local Maltese limestone, bronze and glass. The door will be mechanically operated with several electric motors, each controlling the different openings within the door.

When closed the door is seen in four parts, the lower part consist of three sections, where both side sections will be for the general public to walk through, the middle section, which has a ramp, will be opened for vehicles and ceremonies that are connected with the Cathedral Church, while the top section will only be opened for processions from the Church.

The Ministry Gozo, referring to reports in some media today, said that the company that built the door is not the same one that produced the cathedral bells. The Ministry also denied that there is any problems with the electric motors that control the door openings.

"Reports that there are problems for the procession on Monday for the Santa Marija feast, are also untrue. The door is already in use and is opening as required, as agreed with the Cathedral Administration and with the Leone Philharmonic Society," the statement said.

Photograph: Archway door during its installation on site.

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