Gosport's Millennium Bridge is working again - at least so far

This week the opening mechanism successfully lifted the portion of the Millennium Bridge over Forton Lake, Gosport bridge that allows large vessels to pass in and out of the lake.

Gosport Borough Council, after further tests, says it is working and that boat owners can now request it be lifted so they can get in and out of the lake.

The mechanism that raises and lowers a section of the bridge, allowing taller boats to pass through, had not been working for some time, and specialist contractors have been working to fix it.

The bridge will be raised to allow a boat out of the lake on Wednesday, if weather conditions allow.

Gosport Borough Council leader Graham Burgess said: ‘We’re sorry this has taken some time to achieve and has caused frustration to people with boats. It's been a difficult and complex job but we believe it has had the desired result.’

Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport said it was good news and added: ‘After raising the lack of action on repairing the lifting mechanism with Gosport Borough Council for over a decade I’m happy to see this work has now taken place.’

The bridge has had a series of breakdowns related to the pair of motors that power the lifting mechanism.

The 3-kilowatt motors are used to raise the 28-tonne bridge deck using a 23-tonne counterweight - it is designed to rise in five minutes.

Alistair Dilley is a trustee for Maritime Workshops has several boats moored in his boatyard - some owners have been waiting years for the bridge to open.

‘I saw the bridge go up and down a couple of times, with all sorts of banging and clanging going on but things seem to be operating alright,’ he said.

‘The engineers are down there with a crew I think are from Gosport Borough Council teaching them how to open and close it.

‘I think it operated ok but it needs lots of grease, lots of oiling for getting the thing working properly because it’s all gummed up with saltwater I expect.

‘We’ve got one boat owner who is desperate to get his boat out as soon as possible and hopefully that’s going to be done, hopefully just after the weekend - that’s fairly imperative.

‘Our next struggle is trying to get our compensation back from the council for all the efforts we’ve had to put in for keeping this thing going.’

To request a lifting of the bridge, boaters can email [email protected] or call 023 9254 5289 in normal office hours, giving at least a full working day’s notice.