THE floating bridge farce has cost the Isle of Wight Council more than half a million pounds.
Operational problems with the new vessel and loss of income, has seen the council rack up costs of £515,000.
Cabinet member for resources, Cllr Stuart Hutchinson said: "We are not going to have the bridge back in operation until it's working properly. There are costs which have to be met, hopefully by the manufacturers and designers, but pending legal action we don't know."
Other overspends this quarter include £717,000 on children's social care, largely due to expensive residential and foster placements, and £114,000 on care for elderly people.
Due to savings in other areas, however - less money was spent on housing, homelessness and bereavement services, for example - and extra income from parking and leisure services - the council is looking at an overall underspend of £141,000.
The figures were published in the quarterly finance and performance report, presented last Thursday's cabinet meeting.