Source: City of Plymouth
Work will start next week (last week of July) to remove the old link bridge and pontoon at Mount Batten Pier.
The structure has been closed to the public since last spring and ferry services rerouted to the landing stage at the Mount Batten Water Sports and Activities Centre nearby.
An investigation earlier this year found that cracks detected within the bridge link to the pontoon had opened up significantly and could break at any time, posing a risk to marine traffic in the vicinity. Bracing works were carried out to the structure as a temporary measure while options were considered.
Marine traffic were made aware and asked to keep their distance from the structure.
The Council has been looking at the logistics of removing the bridge and pontoon and following a competitive tender process, has now entered into an arrangement to transfer ownership of the bridge and pontoon to Voyager Marine, who will also carry out the works to safely remove the structure.
Logistics are being finalised but this move expected to start next week, subject to tide and weather.
The Mount Batten Water Taxi service has been using the Mount Batten Sailing and Watersports Centre pontoon to operate since the closure.
The link bridge will be removed by barge when high tide facilitates this and will be towed away, with the pontoon, to Voyager Boat Yard where they will be repurposed. The work will also involve removal of the piles below the seabed.
The Plymouth Sound National Marine Park project have plans in train to replace the centre’s pontoon with a new structure. These plans have been extended to include extra provision for the Mount Batten Water Taxi to enable a return to a full service.
The Council, is working in partnership on the project with the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park and the Mount Batten Centre and its board. Detailed onsite investigations have been carried out and the Council has issued a tender for work to build a new pontoon, with associated seabed infrastructure.
The contract is expected to be awarded later this summer.