Why, Cleddau King ferry was sold, to be used on the Strangford-Portaferry route from 1975-2002, renamed MV Portaferry, following refurbishment work at H&W.

1. Initial investment:
   The Cleddau Bridge cost £11.83 million in 1975. Adjusted for inflation, this would be equivalent to approximately £100-120 million in today’s terms.
2. Traffic flows:
   Cleddau Bridge:

• 885,900 crossings in first year (1975)
• 13,000 crossings daily in 2024 (4,745,000 annually)

Strangford Ferry:

• Currently averages 650 vehicle crossings per day (237,250 annually)

1. Cumulative traffic flows:
   Cleddau Bridge:
   Assuming a linear growth in traffic from 885,900 in 1975 to 4,745,000 in 2024:

• Average annual crossings over 49 years: (885,900 + 4,745,000) / 2 = 2,815,450
• Estimated cumulative crossings 1975-2024: 2,815,450 * 49 = 137,957,050

Strangford Ferry:
Assuming current traffic levels have remained relatively constant:

• Estimated cumulative crossings 1975-2024: 237,250 * 49 = 11,625,250

1. Comparative analysis:

• The Cleddau Bridge has facilitated approximately 126 million more crossings over 49 years compared to maintaining a ferry service.
• Current daily traffic on the Cleddau Bridge is 20 times higher than the Strangford Ferry.
• The bridge has enabled significant traffic growth, while ferry capacity has likely constrained growth at Strangford.

1. Economic impact:

• The Cleddau Bridge’s much higher traffic flows suggest it has enabled greater economic activity and connectivity.
• The ferry’s limited capacity and operating hours likely restrict economic growth potential in the Strangford/Portaferry area.

1. Long-term value:
   While the initial investment for a bridge is substantial, the Cleddau example demonstrates the potential for significant long-term benefits in terms of increased connectivity, economic growth, and cumulative usage far exceeding that of a ferry service.

This analysis suggests that despite higher upfront costs, a fixed crossing at Strangford Lough could potentially deliver much greater long-term economic and social benefits compared to maintaining the current ferry service. However, a full feasibility study would be required to accurately assess the specific costs, benefits and environmental considerations for the Strangford Lough context.