WATCH: Mersey ferry infrastructure milestone

The project marks a major phase in the long-term renewal of Mersey Ferries, with a 52-metre landing stage and a 120-tonne bridge positioned during a complex, two-day marine civil engineering operation.

“Woodside is an iconic location and it is fantastic to see work on the new landing stage and bridge is now completed in a remarkable piece of engineering,” said Cllr Paula Basnett, leader of Wirral Council.

“This will allow the Mersey Ferries to continue to serve people for generations to come, especially when the new Royal Daffodil is in operation next year, allowing locals and visitors alike to continue enjoying one of the most famous ferry rides in the world.” 

Complex operation

The main contractor on the project is Warbreck Intergrated Services from Liverpool, UK.

During the operation, specialist teams used the Lara 1 floating crane to coordinate movements across busy shipping lanes to safely connect the new structures to supporting piles on the Wirral waterfront.

This installation replaces a 39-year-old landing stage, linkspan bridge and boom structures, which have been carefully dismantled and responsibly recycled.

Final fit-out works are now underway, including a modern passenger waiting room designed to improve the user experience and support long-term operational resilience.

The Woodside scheme forms part of a wider 20-year investment strategy for ferry infrastructure, following the refurbishment of Seacombe Ferry Terminal and ahead of a new vessel entering service in 2026.

That ferry is currently under construction at Cammell Laird and has already completed basin testing.

Delivered in partnership with Wirral Council and funded through local regeneration and active travel programmes from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the works are expected to support wider waterfront regeneration and reconnect Woodside with Birkenhead town centre.

The regeneration scheme has been made possible by local regeneration funding from Wirral Council and active travel funding from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.