Wightlink’s £45million investment its Portsmouth-Fishbourne route is beginning to take shape.

Totton-based Contractors Trant are starting work on the new customer experience building at Wightlink’s Gunwharf terminal in Portsmouth.

The blue steel beams will form the skeleton of a three storey structure to house a Costa Coffee branch on the top floor, a 24/7 ‘grab and go’ food area on the ground floor and offices on the first floor. Historical interpretation boards will be installed on site so customers can learn more about Wightlink’s heritage in the city.

“After many months of preparation, we can now see our £45 million development start to take shape,” says Project Director John Burrows. “However, while it is all very exciting, the works will inevitably cause some disruption for our customers and we apologise for any inconvenience we may cause to their journeys.”

Work will begin soon on the installation of the two-tier boarding ramp in Portsmouth. As contractors will need more of the terminal at this time, the Gunwharf Road car park will be used as an overspill marshalling area.

The existing Portsmouth Gunwharf ticket office will be closed from March 10 until the autumn. Cars will be checked in at the entrance to the car park and freight will be checked in at the gatehouse.

The Costa café, toilets and foot passenger waiting area will remain open.

All Portsmouth-Fishbourne ferries will be diverted to Portsmouth International Port (PIP) on March 7-9 and 28-30. All customers have been contacted about the revised timetable.

At Fishbourne, concrete supports for the ramp to the linkspan are now in place and the steel ramp will be erected after Easter.

In Turkey, shipyard workers at Cemre in Yalova have now cut and assembled 14 out of the 22 steel blocks needed to form the hull of the new ferry for the route.

Meetings have taken places with Lloyds Register to finalise the design specifications and all is on track for Wightlink’s new flagship to be completed in spring 2018.