The Isle of Wight Council Alliance Group said it is working towards a 'fit-for-purpose' floating bridge that will help local businesses, improve connections, alleviate road traffic problems and restore overall confidence in the service.
It's understood that certain important legal issues have now concluded, with the Alliance administration stating that they are dedicating their efforts to find the correct solution.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure, said:
“A new floating bridge is still very much under serious consideration. But as many people understand and appreciate, there are a number of factors which must be looked into - such as computer modelling of the river and specific engineering audits to include the current status of the chain pits and depths - before we can finalise any viable solution.
“Whatever we do to make this floating bridge service better, reliable and more frequent, we must do it correctly. The Alliance is working as quickly as circumstances and process allow, but, above all, we must get this right. We want to work with professional project management transportation engineering experts to advise the Council professionally, and we must, and want to, use local island engineering expertise where possible.”
In the meantime, the chain ferry will continue to be as operational as it possibly can, whilst the necessary engineering and economic reviews are undertaken. Work is understood to be starting soon.
The Alliance administration added:
"These are, of course, important necessary steps to review before embarking on any sustainable solution. The important thing is that we have now been able to get things to a point where all options can be considered. We have done this by focusing on getting to the best possible solution rather than concentrating on where to apportion blame."
Cllr Phil Jordan added:
“We need to be sure that whatever is done next is done correctly, professionally and with certainty, so we have a fit-for-purpose floating bridge that will operate efficiently for the next 25 years and more.
"When the Alliance took over the running of the Isle of Wight Council in May last year, we promised to sort out the floating bridge. We are now finally in a position to deliver on that promise."
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