Mersey Ferry users are being reminded that Seacombe ferry terminal is set to close on Friday 18 December until summer 2021 to allow extensive refurbishment works to take place.
Ferry services will be suspended after the final commuter run on Friday 18 December. They will resume at Woodside from the first commuter service on Monday 4 January 2021.
The same timetable as is currently used at Seacombe will apply to commuter services at Woodside. Commuters who pay for weekly, monthly and yearly passes will also still benefit from free parking at Woodside.
The move to Woodside will also coincide with the re-opening of the U-Boat Story museum to the public, having been closed since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic earlier this year.
Mersey Ferry commuters will still be able to travel cross river as services will be running between the Pier Head and Woodside, Birkenhead for the duration of the works. Cross river services will also operate during the day.
The works are part of a major investment to keep the services running for many years to come.
It will see the linkspan bridges, which are over 130 years old and coming to the end of their operational life, replaced and the landing stage undergo a major refurbishment, including upgrading the mooring bollards and installing new powered gangways. The pontoon will be removed from the water to carry out these works.
This should allow the stage to operate for another 25 years before any major maintenance intervention is needed.
For the duration of these works, the vessel will not be able to berth and therefore Seacombe ferry terminal will close. Merseytravel will use this opportunity to carry out other maintenance requirements in the terminal itself and work with Eureka Mersey! to prepare for their works planned in and around this site.
Further details about the Seacombe closure can be found on the Mersey Ferries website at www.merseyferries.co.uk/seacombe.
Customers are reminded to always follow the current guidance regarding use of public transport including the Mersey Ferries during the Coronavirus pandemic as restrictions may apply and to follow key advice about how to travel safely. More information is available on the ReThink travel web page.
Speaking about the refurbishment works, Cllr Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:
“We would once again like to thank our loyal customers for their patience while these essential improvement works are carried out at Seacombe.
“These works at Seacombe are vital to make sure the ferries can continue to operate from there for many years to come. We’ve been able to make sure that ferry users will still be able to travel across the river by diverting services to Woodside.
“The Mersey Ferries are an important part of our cultural identity in the city region. We know that Coronavirus continues to have a huge impact on everyday life, but this shows our commitment to continuing to invest in the ferries for the future.”