FLOATING BRIDGE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO SERVICE AT LUNCHTIME AFTER CHAIN TENSION ISSUE

The Isle of Wight Council says it expects the Cowes Floating Bridge to return to service this lunchtime (Wednesday) following investigation work to determine what caused the latest suspension of service. It’s said that the banging noise experienced on Monday evening relates to an issue with the chain tensions in the chain pits, which were impeding the movement of chains. The local authority says it is likely that the recent floods have carried debris into the pits that have then fouled the movement of the chains. This morning, engineers will clean out the pits and re-tension the chains. A test of the performance of Floating Bridge No.6 will then take place at low, mid and high tides. It’s anticipated that the service will resume at midday.