The bridge would cross the Medina to act as a Newport bypass for traffic heading between Ryde and the West Wight. The council will be working with Hampshire County Council on the year-long study, which is due to start this summer.
Councillor Dave Stewart, the leader of Isle of Wight Council, said: “There is much work to do to work up any plans, and we will need to secure funding and possibly land purchases, but this study is the start of what could be an ambitious and exciting project for the island into the next decade." He added that the council also plans to consider the potential for the bridge to have a cycle and walking path in addition to taking vehicles.
The Medina is on average about 150m wide, but it is likely that wherever the bridge is placed the structure would need to be much longer, said the council. The study will look in detail at the exact location of any bridge, how it can be paid for through a toll or other means, the timings of the project, the potential environmental impact and funding issues.
