£9m Woodside Ferry Terminal upgrade starts
Set to complete by next summer, the project aims to secure the long-term viability of the waterfronts of Wirral and Liverpool.
Woodside Ferry Terminal is almost 40 years old and in need of an upgrade. It allows passengers to travel 10 minutes downstream to Seacombe, or across the River Mersey to Liverpool’s Pier Head terminal.
The £9m programme of work will include removing and replacing the current landing stage and linkspan bridge, as well as modernising the passenger waiting area. When complete, the terminal will host the £26m Mersey Ferry, which was announced in December.
Warbreck Engineering and Construction is the contractor for the project, according to filings on Contract Finder Pro.
Cllr Steve Foulkes, chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority transport committee, said: “The existing structures at Woodside have served us well over the past 39 years, but it’s important for us to look to the future and fit in with the wider improvements taking place.
“Alongside the plans for a new ferry, these works highlight our commitment to the Mersey Ferries and their importance as a much-beloved cultural asset for our city region.”
The terminal upgrade project was partially funded through Wirral Council’s Levelling Up Fund bid and forms part of a wider regeneration scheme coinciding with the £23m Wirral Woodside masterplan, which features the development of 1,700 homes, two hotels, and tourist amenities.
Other aspects of the masterplan include the erection of two multi-storey car parks, an enhanced public realm, an external events space, and roughly 122,000 sq ft of active ground floor space for commercial enterprise.
Cllr Paul Stuart, Leader of Wirral Council, said: “The Woodside area is on the cusp of major change with the significant funding Wirral Council has obtained to maximise the incredible potential of this unique location.
“The revamped ferry terminal will play an important role in helping us make Woodside the amazing waterfront destination it should be, alongside the work we are doing to improve its connections through Hamilton Square to Birkenhead town centre and make it a location where people want to live, work, and visit.”
You’d think a ferry landing stage would last more than 39 years, but hey ho.
Isn’t it time to bring the New Brighton ferry back by building a basic pier and landing stage, meanwhile a landing stage at Herculaneum Quay would be popular.
Not sure why the forthcoming new ferry is so big but maybe a couple of smaller ferries the size of the Hamburg ferries are better for commuting, especially as more people should be living down by Woodside and Seacombe.
By Anonymous
The Seacombe upgrade took 21 months to complete. Woodside has now been closed for two full years and work only began in the last couple of weeks. Not only has the ferry stopped running, but the food court, outdoor market and tram service have all disappeared without a trace and of course the U Boat museum hasn’t been open since lockdown, not that anyone cares.
By Anonymous
Great news, but since Liverpool doesn’t really have an effective ferry any more, not really sure what benefit this could be without an expansion of the current ferry. Yes, there is a sort of ferry, but just for commuting hours, which doesn’t really qualify as public transport. The main boat is just a tourist cruise, not a ferry.
It’s so odd as ferry public transport doesn’t need need road or rail infrastructure. The rail already exists in the availability of water. All it needs are stations (which are the wharfs). Ferries themselves can have high capacity. So a regular ferry network should be quite cost effective. What Liverpool really needs is a high frequency public transport ferry (every 15 minutes) between the city and a few other stops on the Wirral, and maybe even a couple of other lines.
By EOD
People forget the ease and convenience of our underground rail network and two vehicle tunnels – not to mention that population density around both current ferry terminals is relatively low.
Add in the weather – particularly in winter, on such a wide, deep and fast river – and for all its romance, you can see why the public abandoned the ferries as a viable commuting resource. A bit like cycle lanes, reality butts up against the dreams of, well, dreamers.
By More Anonymous than the others
There isnt much work going on. The new stage build is meant to be taking place in Huskisson Docks, not a lot of movement there.
By Gatz