Commuters are being reminded that from today until Saturday the Whitianga Ferry service will be shut down while the floating pontoon at the Ferry Landing Wharf is replaced.

'We apologise to everyone for the inconvenience while the pontoon is replaced. A free bus service is being provided while the works take place,” says the Thames-Coromandel District Council.

The Whitianga Ferry Service will be shut down from today (October 5) until Friday, October 7 to allow contractors to replace the old 9m concrete floating pontoon at Ferry Landing Wharf. Photo: TCDC

The pontoon replacement works are subject to weather and will take place from today (Wednesday, October 5) through to Friday, October 7, with the plan to resume ferry services on Saturday, October 8.

While the replacement works are carried out, the Murphy bus service will run from 7.30am through to 8.30pm on the hour, from both the Ferry Landing and Whitianga Wharf. There will also be one stop at the Cooks Beach Hall.

A Go Kiwi Shuttle Bus will also do a run from Whitianga Wharf to Ferry Landing (via Cooks Beach Hall) at 7.30am and returning at 8.30am, and again at 7.30pm returning at 8.30pm, during this period.

The old nine metre concrete pontoon and its piles at Ferry Landing Wharf will be removed by barge, with new piles drilled and the new pontoon barged into position and fixed to the installed piles. The work will cost $150,000.

To view the bus timetables visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's website at: www.tcdc.govt.nz/busferry