The Leader of the Isle of Wight Council says he believes the authority should continue to pursue the idea of a road bridge across the River Medina, despite a Hampshire County Council report stating it would be ‘prohibitive’ due to the cost and environmental impact.
As reported by Island Echo last year, the Council is exploring the options for building a crossing from the East to the West side of the River Medina near Newport. It’s hoped that such a crossing would act as a bypass and cut congestion around Coppins Bridge and thus reduce pollution in the town.
However, an initial study carried out by Hampshire County Council has indicated that whilst it would be possible to build a bridge over the River Medina, the cost and environmental impact of such a crossing would make funding such a scheme prohibitive.
It’s been recommended that a wider study of traffic flows and transport provision should be carried out in order to determine whether the Medina crossing is the best option to ease the traffic situation in Newport. The report also states that wider Island-wide transport studies are required to better determine the full benefits of a Medina crossing that could justify the costs.
Council leader, Councillor Dave Stewart, has said:
“A bridge over the river Medina close to Newport remains our ambition. This major infrastructure project would effectively act as a Newport bypass for traffic heading between Ryde and the West Wight and cut congestion and pollution in the town.
“Coronavirus has delayed progress but this will remain part of our infrastructure strategy.
“I am aware of Hampshire’s comments but the positive impact the bridge would have on traffic into Newport, as well as improving access to and from Ryde, adds real community value.
Article continues below this advertisement “This is the right way forward and I believe we should pursue it further.”
The bridge, which is hoped to be in place by 2029, is not intended to replace the troubled Cowes Floating Bridge.
A bridge ? words fail me. I have a feeling the big factor will be the needs of the river trafic, not the road traffic
Hampshire county council object? It’s none of their damn business. The Isle of Wight is a separate county and doesn’t need any advice from the north island. We’ve got enough problems with our own inept councillors.
we are not our own county anymore we now come under Hampshire
I thought the same , It’s nothing to do with them
What’s it got to do with Hampshire we are a independent county or at least that’s what I thought and as for boat traffic hardly any travel that far up the river now build the bridge and get rid of the waste of money floating bridge
If they had left St Marys Roundabout alone they would have had £9 or £10 million to go towards it.
Exactly mt thoughts John. That St Marys project is the most stupid waste of £9M that will ruin traffic flow, kill fuel consumption and increase pollution in the area. It will however improve traffic around Newport due to it all getting congested there like a car park.
They should have built a bridge years ago and already spent money on surveys back then that went to waste. Probably a backlash from the yachting brigade worried about getting their pride and joy up the river.
Everyone on the island can see that it would be advantageous without many costly traffic surveys.
As long as no one in the council has anything to do with the planning or construction it might work out.
It will probably go the lowest bidder, massively under quoting and going over budget by millions as a result.
They have to justify the cost. That’s a laugh how have they justified the cost of the floating piece of scrap at the other end of the river
How would Hampshire county council know what the traffic is like on the island they don’t have to live with it. Try asking the people of the island what their views are I’m sure it would be well supported. Make it a toll bridge it will then pay for itself in time the same as the Severn bridge into Wales.
How come in the war, massive bridges were constructed in days when bridges had been blown up, still strong enough to take tanks and lorries, yet now it would ‘cost too much’ to construct a bridge over a tiny river without enemy fire, and with modern technology.?
IF a bridge is too expensive then why not build two ‘Piers’ out where the chain ferry now is, to constrict the river ‘crossing’ to a narrow central portion, wide enough only for the largest ship to pass, then construct an iron sliding central portion to ‘bridge’ the gap, which could be slide back when boats need to pass.
So normally the bridge gap would be closed so traffic could use the road, but could be open at the rare times a boat needs to pass. After all the boats have all the time in the world whereas commerce hasn’t.
If they built a dam about level with Island Harbour marina, they could fill the rest of the Medina in. Come in handy when Lynbottom is full and the expensive bridge becomes a cheap causeway. It would also save the council wasting a load of money on Newport harbour and stealing our leisure spaces for housing to pay for it. Simples!
Here we go again, awaiting approval. Bah!
Good idea. It already works quite well in Yarmouth.
‘Environmental impact’?! When has this council ever cared about environmental impact? They are hell-bent on destroying the environment as quickly as possible. More likely they calculated that the bridge won’t generate enough of those juicy ££££££ they crave.
Floating bridge £7 million,St Mary’s £11 million and huge environmental impact with all that concrete and tarmac produced, lorry’s and machinery etc,huge amounts of steal reinforcement. Traffic lights, wiring etc. Half cost of small bridge already wasted to also help individuals profit with their £1millon homes,flash cars, holidays ,private schools.
Provarication wrapped up to look like council care. Must be election soon. Hampshire cc already increasing our poll tax. Impact of bridge gonna be less than 10000 houses.
Just get it done.
Sadly, we stopped being a separate county when we lost the DL registration.
New cars since are registered as HW – Hampshire Wight.
The police and fire services come under Hampshire.
etc etc
I find this whole article confirms for me that despite expert advice our council will plough on regardless.
The bridge was mentioned over 45 -50 years ago. Still waiting.
I’d have thought that limiting the number of cars on the road would be the way to go. Continued building on the Island of property that is aimed at mainland buyers, thus encouraging more cars, should be stopped. Someone will have to bite the bullet one day before we all suffer from the effects of motor pollution and overcrowded roads……and we’ve all seen the problems of transport hold ups this Summer.
Instead of a fixed Bridge, why not consider the construction of a Swing Bridge from a Channel Hub. There are examples of these Bridges around the Country. Passing River Traffic can be controlled with Red / Green Lights and Auto Barriers with Red / Green Lights at each end to Control Road Traffic when the Bridge is required to open.
No no no no!! Don’t involve anything mechanical it will get stuck open all the time. They tried mechanical just look at the floating embarresment no6 at the the other end of the river. Just a normal bridge crossing
Reflecting you are probably right.
And who’s going to pay for this bridge , which you have been told is not viable and would not make a profit, you are already in so much debt, you are putting every thing up and cutting services, the isle of wight people can’t take anymore of this shit you don’t listen to anyone, you just do what you want to do it has to stop NOW
If a bridge is to be built, it has to be a fixed bridge, as that is the cheapest form of bridge to build, any form of mechanical bridge would be prohibitively too expensive.
If you are constructing a bridge from West to East then Newport is the last place you want to build it.
From the West side, it needs to be built in and around the Northwood area, across to the East in and around the area of Whippingham.
Even if a bridge was built it would not solve the problem of foot passengers wishing to go from East Cowes to west Cowes and back.
I can remember when there was a Summer floating bridge and a Winter floating bridge.
When one or the other was out of season it would be stored at Clare Lallows boatyard were it would be serviced and repainted, ready for the next season.
This system worked perfectly, then the council in its infinite wisdom decided to scrap the two floating bridges and replace them with one floating bridge, which meant that when inevitably it broke down or needed servicing it had to be taken to the mainland leaving no service.
The original concrete slipways at east and west side worked perfectly, as did the old floating bridge, but since the council in its wisdom altered the slipways and at the same time bought a redesigned floating bridge the consequences are, that it hardly ever works as it should.
It’s a classical case of, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
Water taxis would be the answer for foot passengers
We don’t need a bridge. Scrap that joke of a chain ferry and build an underpass in exactly the same spot under the river. The road is already there, all that is needed is a tunnel and some traffic lights. If they can dig one under the channel, they should be able to dig one under the river Medina! It won’t then interrupt the hooray Henrys in their summer toys going up and down the river either, so everyone wins, and it would be a damn site quicker for everyone getting from one side of the river to the other.
Good idea but to build a tunnel, it must begin much farther back in land, to be able to go down to the required depth.
Building on the existing site is not practical for East or West Cowes.
Build it from Northwood to Whippingham would be perfect, that way you are not dumping hundreds of vehicles into the centre of two of the smallest towns on the island, causing gridlock and chaos, especially with regards Red Funnel terminal.
“act as a Newport bypass”
It may keep some traffic from Cowes and East Cowes away from Newport, but that’s one side of Newport taken care off, what about the rest?
Can you just imagine it if it is built?
Worker to boss worker, hmmmm this last piece does not fit?
Boss worker to worker …. well those are the measurements the council gave use.
Worker to boss worker, but its 3 metres too high this side and 10 metres off centre ! ! !
I’m all for the environment etc, but surely cutting fuel and fuel fumes is a plus? I’m sure that giving it some decent thought and planning would minimise the impact to the marine ecology. Make it into a ‘Green bridge’ building competition.
Scrap floaty McCrap bridge, and have this instead.
Hampshire does not have any any jurisdiction over the Island as far as I am aware. However, a year-long study was commissioned by the IOW council last summer, working with Hampshire County Council transport experts (Island Echo 30th May, 2019). But what is the point in IOW council paying for a report by ‘experts’ if they are going to ignore it if it doesn’t concur with their own views?
I bet it will be closed due to some fault if the council ever build it
I designed a bridge four years ago using google earth 3d snaps. Using the queuing roads already in place at the east and west end of cowes. Using a one pound basket toll system. With pedestrian walks either side. The height of the centre of the bridge is high enough to pass the large sand barges underneath. Gkn would have to sacrifice four parking spaces to allow for the support collems on the east side while the west side would end at the yard near bridge road. The bridge needs to be at this end of the river. Not newport end. This would do away with the floating money pit. Also the bridge would be an attractive arch with the design of a sail. This would suit the theme of our lovely harbour. The revenue created would be four or more times more than the floating bridge generates each year. No brainer.
If it was a tole road over the river and it made lots of money, perhaps it would become a reality.
Ryde Pier are making a mint….
Excuse me, but why have the bridge close to Newport… many drivers want to by pass Newport. I often go to Yarmouth and hate the fact that I have to go through part of Newport to get there, surely a bridge further up would make more sense. All the money being wasted on St Mary’s roundabout… and changing other routes, would have been unnecessary if one further up was built. Expensive at todays prices yes… but in another ten years, double the cost.. as will need to be done somewhen… all these new houses, loads more mainland people moving here.. Coppins Bridge struggles a lot now even that stupid slip road, great idea but in wrong place… was that though up by same one that decided to make Floating bridge bigger, and to also destroy a perfectly good roundabout.. ?? Roundabouts keep traffic flowing … traffic lights STOP traffic. Be interesting to see the tailbacks to Northwood !! As there are already every day..