New chains are to be fitted to the troubled Cowes Floating Bridge next week, bringing 5 days of disruption to the West Cowes-East Cowes service.
Experts are installing the new chains to replace the older, existing chains – which are at the end of the normal operating life of 3 years.
To undertake the fitting, the floating bridge will be out of service from 07:00 to 19:00 from Monday 8th to Friday 12th July – 5 days. This is also to ensure that depth surveys are carried out on the new chains to satisfy the Cowes Harbour Commission’s minimum depth requirement for chain clearance.
A foot passenger service will be in place for the week, from 05:00 each morning.
The current chains are the original ones used on the previous floating bridge and have now come to the end of their period of use, having been in place for 3 years. The new chains, coupled with the rubber matting installed last year, should further reduce noise and vibration when the bridge docks.
According to the Isle of Wight Council, the bridge continues to work well and last month operated for 94.3% of its scheduled operating hours, carrying 40,163 foot passengers and 19,200 car users, including over the busy festival period.
The new chains are expected to last 2 to 3 years.
Earlier today the Solent LEP announced that it will be continuing to work with the Council to secure the improvements needed to the Cowes Floating Bridge.
UPDATE MONDAY – The Cowes Floating Bridge is operating as normal today, but the work is set to get underway tomorrow (Tuesday).
Incorrect information supplied by the Isle of Wight Council stated that the service would be suspended from 07:00 this morning, but the Council have since tweeted to confirm the chain replacement works will start on Tuesday with a passenger launch in place from 05:00.
“Experts are installing the new chains” What could possibly go wrong!
,what about all the other months
It used to be done over night with a horse pulling the new chains into place. Ready to go next morning with no interruption to the service. Progress eh!
Just goes to prove, that todays experts are rank amateurs who have never done a decent days work, studied at university and somehow think they know better than the real experts that had this whole operation optimised to work as efficiently and promptly as possible – it was unheard of, the floating bridge being out of action years ago.
These “child experts” should stop being perpetually offended and listen to those that have experience on the ground and actually know what they are talking about.
It’s only been in working operation for a total of a year all in.. lol what a waste of time..
The newspapers gave out the wrong date? Go on admit it council, the new chains did not arrive on time. A bit like FB 666