The final plank of Wightlink’s new pedestrian walkway – linking the FastCat terminal at Ryde Pier Head with Ryde Esplanade – has been laid, with the new walkway set to open within weeks.
Wightlink’s Head of Port Operations Dean Murphy was on hand to watch the final screws being driven into the last decking board by Andy Whitlock from contractors Knights Brown.
Built in 1814, Ryde Pier is the UK’s oldest and the 2nd-longest seaside pier in the country at half a mile. The walkway has been built on the Victorian cast-iron piles of the old tramway, next to the railway pier. Horse-drawn trams first carried holidaymakers along the Pier when the tramway opened in 1864, then steam, electric and petrol-driven trams were used. Trams were withdrawn in 1969.
Dean Murphy says:
“Strollers now have their own path, away from cars and bicycles, making Ryde Pier more pleasurable for people who want to walk by the sea or travel on foot to and from Wightlink’s FastCats.
“New shelters and seats will offer everyone a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful views across the Solent.”
Island Echo understands the new shelters have been delivered to the Island and are currently being stored at Wightlink’s Fishbourne terminal, ahead of their installation. Some commentators have questioned the design of the shelter roofs.
Knights Brown rose to the challenge of transforming the historic pier, working through the night around high and low tide to complete the project. Crews replaced more than 350 tonnes of old steelwork with new steel, installing almost 3,000 decking boards (more than 2 kilometres of greenheart timber) and 1.5 km of decorative handrails.
The works to Ryde Pier are part of a £10million project by Isle of Wight Council as part of the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund to upgrade Ryde Transport Interchange. It includes improvements to Ryde Esplanade railway station and the bus station, and enhanced cycle links.
Under the original plans, the walkway was going to be enclosed – to protect walkers from the elements – and also feature a cycle path. But the plans have been scaled back, twice.
Network Rail is also carrying out essential maintenance and improvement work including strengthening the railway pier for the next 60 years, but this scheme has been pushed back and won’t be finished until 10th July.
This one part of the Interchange development that almost makes sense
I just have problem with public money being spent to upgrade a unregulated private companies assests
This has been needed for a long time but shareholders must come first
Your correct, tax payers pay for the upgrade, but wightlink benefit.
Yes it’s ridiculous that its come from public money. Because there isn’t a public place that people can go to at the end of the pier is there.
Yes there is, Portsmouth.
I don’t believe it will open until the railings have been improved. The chance of a small child or dog falling through the gaps and into the sea make it very unlikely that any responsible person would sign it off as safe as it stands.
What a good point. The new railings contrast with the ornate design of the railings on the main vehicular pier, which conveniently cover the gaps.
I expect mirroring the current main pier design would have been much more expensive.
Why is it the suit has to be in the photo taking the glory. Probably the first time he’s been there.
He’s the last plank
I doubt it. I’m sure there are plenty more planks where he came from.
2 planks together
I thought this was meant to be a coverd walk way typical wightlink this will only benefit them
Very few people go up the pier unless they need the cat, makes no difference to wightlink how they get to it unless they’re parking a car. As for closed in walkway people have walked that pier since the 1800s
Will Wightlink charge us another £50 to walk along it
I tried to book a car ferry for my family and disabled husband Saturday even with the minimal discount applied the boat still came to £90, but with discounts applied to the passenger ferry and no car for 1 child, 2 carers and a disabled with mobility scooter, total £25 . So wightlink by the looks charge £65 just for the car space. Surely with the benifits they are going to receive from the interchange they should give the island residence a better discount.