More Misery Ahead as Floating Bridge Faces Planned Maintenance Shutdown
The floating bridge will be off the water this Thursday (19 April) as crews carry out crucial maintenance to upgrade electrical and navigation systems. Passengers will have to rely on the foot passenger launch during the outage.
Bridge Downtime to Tackle Noise and Navigation Issues
Work will include installing reset switches for the touchscreen and hydraulic controls, replacing a navigation strobe light, adjusting CCTV camera angles, and fitting noise-dampening material to the prow. The new soundproofing aims to cut down on the persistent noise that has plagued locals.
Fixing the Root Cause: River Silt Clearing to Prevent Groundings
Councillor Stewart stressed the importance of these works during an ongoing trial period for a reliable service. He also addressed the nasty surprise that saw the bridge run aground last Saturday, blaming river silt build-up at the East Cowes slipway.
“This silt has been gathering for years and was cleared as needed. Going forward, its removal will be routine,” said Stewart.
Noise Levels Under the Microscope
Following these upgrades, an independent noise consultant alongside Environmental Health officers will conduct further noise checks. The council aims to tackle complaints and keep the peace around the float ferry ramp.
