The smart glazed exterior of the new café unit at Ryde Interchange has been unveiled for the first time. The removal of hoarding from the west side of the building, along with the installation of the structural steelwork for the new feature tower, mark important milestones for the project. But more than 2 years after the Ryde Transport Interchange project began, it is still not complete… Works will now focus on finishing both the tower and paving the main station access before moving to the final roofing phase. It’s been suggested that the project will be completed in June, with ‘hopes’ that the cafe will then open. Elsewhere, the new travel office has been fitted out — with Southern Vectis due to move in shortly — while more seating suitable for those with mobility impairments is planned for the bus station where passengers will soon benefit from real time travel information. 
Parts of the building already completed include the refurbishment of the historic waiting room and the station concourse where the raising of the ceiling height has exposed historic architectural details previously hidden from view. Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, has said:
“It’s great to see real progress continuing to be made at Ryde Interchange. This is an important gateway to Ryde and the Isle of Wight. “I will be interested to see the feature tower at the main station access when the project is completed next month and hopefully opening of the café, where diners will enjoy spectacular views over the Solent, for the summer season. “I am pleased the toilets will now be opened shortly once the lease is finalised with SWT and work is already being planned to improve the planting and greening throughout the Interchange area bringing the project to a conclusion in June as a fantastic advert for Ryde and the Island”.
Best windows i have ever seen.The glazing will take visitors breath away
Will be smashed by benefit kept chavs in a short while, yet the dumb will still be donating to food banks which their chav parent or parents if the father is known gain by.
You sound a lot of fun.
What’s the betting feral scum will keep smashing the glass.
I drove along Ryde Esplanade this afternoon and I saw a cyclist cycling in the middle of the
Road, he should have been using the new WASTE OF MONEY CYCLE LANE.
IW Council have spent millions on the Interchange, yet cyclists still prefer to cycle
along motorists roads.
I would heavily fine cyclists who do not use cycle lanes if cycle lanes are available.
If a motorist drove along a cycle lane they would be prosecuted.
Motorists do drive along the cycle route, we get at least one a week who don’t know what a green coloured path with bikes painted on it means, you cannot blame the cyclists though because unless you know the area well you cannot easily see where this farce of cycle lane starts.
The same cretin who designed the thing was the same one who thought it was ever so clever to turn traffic coming off the pier nearly 90 degrees into oncoming roundabout traffic and exits on to the pedestrian crossing.
OMG… it’s, it’s beautiful. They (dunno who but anyway) were given a chance to thrill, to impress, to create living poetry and they certainly did. Adventurous, innovative and just so different… What a statement for arriving visitors. Well done whoever you are….
Looking good great improvement
Gary what’s the betting the glass will be broken within days.
Phil Jordan, mouthpiece of madness and the insane. Waste of our money. I expect the vandals will target all that glass within 6 months, this project was never needed in the first place, but then Phil Jordan isn’t needed either, but he is still shouting and waving his alcoholic pointy finger everywhere.
Unfair. I’m the first to criticise when the council and their leader gets it wrong, but this is impressive and credit where credit is due.
Are you joking? That gateway into Ryde was an absolute disgrace and an embarrassment. The innovations may not be to everyone’s taste, but they’re a huge improvement on what was there before.
Someone will have a smashing time when drunk ! .What waste of money,this, cycle lane and bus station. Yet no toilets or thing’s for tourists to do when here. Only one’s making money are designers and construction companies who are fleecing Council and tax payers.
Freddie, you seem upset that the people who build out towns and cities, who create the spaces where we live our lives, might be making money out of it. What, are you a communist or something ? What is with this “oh, someone’s making money” thing we get all the time. You have a job, you get a wage, where does that money come from is no one can make a profit ? There is money wasted on the island, but you’ve chosen the wrong target here.
Why is it taking so long?It’s hardly the Spinnaker tower!Just a front,cafe and some toilets!
How long will those windows stay in one piece?
Who designed this update? The use of breeze blocks just above the damp-proof bricks looks like an afterthought or where the trades used some knock-off they ‘found’ lying around.
It’s a shame they didn’t consider bringing an element of the original 1800s footprint into the design, mixing old with new.
Also, why has it taken so long? Too many nammit breaks or ‘Health & Safety’ whatnots?
I hope they will now reposition the N0 9 bus stand so you don’t need to walk between perambulating busses to change from one route to another. Also provide decent covered waiting areas so you can queue for busses without standing in the rain.
Thank goodness for your sane and practical contribution to this news.
And why on earth did they put those silly, so called high perches in each bus shelter for luggage? Please lower them and have seating. Two benches either side of the 2 and 3 bus stops for six people to sit, is not enough seating.
Too many people in these parts think that we must preserve everything old at any cost. Few seem to realise that modern architecture can be equally impressive if done properly, especially in waterside settings. Fair play to those involved. And just because the local gouriers might lob a brick at it, does that mean we are to have nothing good in our towns ?
Still not open yet though is it?