The Cowes Floating Bridge has been suspended once again this morning (Monday) for urgent repair works, which come 24 hours ahead of planned maintenance which was due to take place tomorrow (Tuesday). Plans had been made for the troublesome floating bridge to be suspended between 08:00-14:00 on Tuesday to allow for works on the west prow and for a chain guide wheel to be replaced. However, the Isle of Wight Council has had to pull the vessel out of service a day earlier than expected to repair the east passenger gate. Repairs also need to be undertaken to the fingers on the east prow. It was just over a week ago that service was suspended as a result of issues with the east prow. Island Echo understands that the floating bridge will now remain out of action until around 14:00 tomorrow afternoon, extending the suspension from 6 hours to 30 hours. A launch service for pedestrians and cyclists will be in operation as usual.
NOT AGAIN! FLOATING BRIDGE SUSPENDED A DAY EARLIER THAN PLANNED AS PROW ISSUES CONTINUE
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The old one was the best thing that happened in my lifetime I was just a kid I don’t remember it but it is still the same thing
We found your two front teeth if you want them back
I will take a tooth
You instore cleaners are very odd
Such a shame. It had been giving such a reliable service for so long before this unfortunate incident. No breakdowns or cancellations for more than seven whole days.
Look….Put a fixed bridge over the river and it could open in the middle to let boats through and they could be charged.
It has to be a permanent fixture, it can not be difficult.
The floating bridge is just not good enough anymore.
Even if it worked its an old fashioned way of travel.
We need to bring this Island up to date and make it a better place to live and work.
Where ? and where is the millions going to come from to build it ??
With all of OUR money that has been thrown at this load of rubbish and an undisclosed settlement from someone to someone else for either faulty design, build, ordering process or something else, plus the money from Asda etc there have been ample opportunities for a sensible, less archaic way to cross the river but of course our wonderful and caring Council have not bothered to consider any other option, choosing instead to just throw our money away. Can we not, at least, look at alternatives to a small, unreliable and inefficient semi-floating garbage sled.
I really do not see the need to raise the prow to the height that they do ,using the hydraulics. Surely lifting it clear of the water by a couple of feet just using the chains and cables would be sufficient, as is the case with many other ferries of a similar type.
Can’t they change the Closed sign to Broken again?
@ IE
I definitely think you need to include the option of adding emojis to the comments,…
especially ROFLMAO… as that really is the only valid comment left for this floating fiasco
How many more times before we say enough is enough?
at least 5/10 years..
Does anybody rely on this anymore? Surly time to scrap this waste of money for good.
Maybe Mr Seely could write it a letter telling it that it needs to perform much better as the present service is appalling and not acceptable.
John he cannot write such letter to the IWC as no one there can read .. Emperor Jordan doesn’t like debates was well, or he’ll stand up and shout .. at the IWC play skool
To Bob the builder
Where it is now and how much has been wasted on this floating bridge and now they are talking about getting another one.
Its not a big area an Iron type of bridge with a small opening part in the middle goodness how hard can it really be. NOT MILLIONS…
Think of the Island people and how this could only enhance the Island for the better.
Im still right still be millions don’t get nothing for a mill now, would take year’s to get going last time was in 80s..that was £100.000 then to talk bollocks then got forgotten.
Probably cream crackered from yesterday!!!!!
Chock a block due to the island road’s taking up a perfectly good part of road and causing total chaos!!!!!!!…
Meanwhile pot holes keep getting bigger and bigger …
Bodge it and scarper….
Lol .
You had that bath yet you smell
We need a fixed bridge across where the floating bridge is.
NO MOR FLOATING DISASTERS.
Its simple put a swing bridge across.
We have had enough of this now it just doesn’t work to keep letting down the people of the Island like this.
Make a start and do something for the people of the Isle of Wight.
No more floating bridges.
I wonder why this is a temporary sign?…
How about re-routing The Medina?It’ll probably be cheaper…..
I’m thinking a chain guide wheel needs to be replaced as it is corroded and seized through lack of use, as opposed to worn out.
Its clear what will happen. Floating Bridge will be sold off at a cheap price with huge loss. The pedestrian launch will become permanent along with cyclists access. The council will rely on people getting used to extended driving times to go round island and the Floating Bridge will be no more. Not sure why they are wasting anymore time and money, just do it now.