Extensive refurbishment works at Seacombe ferry terminal are set to take place in the new year, as part of a major investment to keep the services running for many years to come.

The works 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. We 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.

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.

Ferry services will be suspended after the final commuter services on Friday 18 December. They will resume at Woodside from the first commuter service on Monday 4 January 2021. The works are due to be completed in summer 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 initial Covid-19 outbreak earlier this year.

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 at https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/customer-information/rethink-travel/

Speaking about the refurbishment works, Cllr Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said:

“The Mersey Ferries are an iconic and important part of our cultural identity in the city region. We know that Coronavirus continues to have a huge impact on everyday life, but we are committed to continuing to invest in the ferries for the future.

“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. I’d like to thank our loyal customers for their patience while the works are carried out.”