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News You Can Use: Expect Delays on Fish Project Pedestrian and Biking Bridge This Weekend, Island Scores on Short-Term Rental Ordinance, Ferries to Raise Rates in October and More

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The Eagle Harbor Drive Fish Passage Project pedestrian bridge at the head of the bay will be closed for short periods from Saturday, August 16, through Monday, August 18 (6 a.m.–7 p.m. daily) while crews install the new, large box culvert. A large crane will lift 16 concrete sections, each weighing over 40,000 pounds, from delivery trucks into the channel. For safety, the bridge will close during each lift, with wait times of about 10–15 minutes before crossing can resume.

Plan ahead:

  • Expect pedestrian and cyclist delays during the day
  • On-foot travelers can use the Lost Valley Trail as an alternate route (access via the dirt road at Wyatt Way and Eagle Harbor Drive)
  • A scheduled PSE outage to the overhead power lines will ensure crane operator safety and will not affect nearby customers.

Traffic Signal Update

ADVERTISEMENTS:

“We know the programmable temporary traffic signal at High School Road and Fletcher Bay Road has been malfunctioning each day during peak congestion,” say City officials. “We’re actively working with the vendor to fix the problem. It’s beyond frustrating for all of us.”

“We’re determined to get these kinks worked out before the school year starts because traffic jams plus the first day of school is nobody’s idea of fun. Thank you for sticking with us while we address this issue.”

Separately, at the Aug. 12 City Council meeting, the Council approved an interlocal agreement with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department (BIFD) to provide financial support for additional staffing during the Eagle Harbor Drive closure. The agreement increases daily staffing from 9 to 11 responders and raises the number of fully staffed units from 4 to 5, helping offset any delays caused by detour traffic. The City will reimburse BIFD for the cost of these additional shifts through the end of the closure.

Council also approved an expedited construction schedule for the project to help reduce overall closure time. For more information, visit: Eagle Harbor Fish Passage at Cooper Creek | Bainbridge Island, WA – Official Website

Bainbridge Sees Near Perfect Compliance with City’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance

Less than a year after Bainbridge Island’s updated short-term rental (STR) ordinance took effect, the City reached near-perfect compliance.

157 STRs registered

151 certificates issued (six pending awaiting completion of their business license)

Only 7 remain unregistered, and enforcement is underway, including two $1,000 citations.

Through the STR Public Portal, the community can:

  • View the license number of each STR

  • Find the local contact phone number for the property who is required to respond within an hour.

  • See the number of bedrooms and maximum occupancy

  • Explore a map of STR locations on Bainbridge Island

  • Report concerns through the complaint portal (via See Click Fix) for code violations or by calling the 24/7 hotline at (844) 308-1261,operated by Deckard Technologies, the City’s STR data manager

This milestone comes as we prepare to welcome visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Seattle, with plans to work with the Chamber of Commerce and Innkeepers Forum to promote island STRs and hotels to fans from around the world.

WSF to Raise Ferry Fees by 3 Percent Beginning October 1

On August 6, the Washington State Transportation Commission approved fare increases on ferry travel. Beginning October 1, travelers will see fare increases of 3% and an additional 3% on May 1, 2026. The Commission also increased summer season surcharges to 35% next year and approved a trial extension of multi-ride pass from 90 days to 120 days beginning next May. Read the full Seattle Times article and learn more here.

 

HRB Dedicates 18 New Affordable Housing Units for its Ericksen Community this Month

In a recent ceremonial groundbreaking, the island’s Housing Resources Board dedicated 18 affordable housing units at its Ericksen Community. These 18 affordable homes, with projected completion in the third quarter of next year, will be close to services, transit, and the waterfront.

HRB Executive Director Phedra Elliott, thanked our generous community members at the groundbreaking stating, “You understand that the Bainbridge we love depends on its people, that community cannot be sustained when membership is determined by one’s ability to pay.”

“Affordable housing is essential for a vibrant community and a thriving local economy,” she said. “The Bainbridge business community is excited to see this project underway and grateful for HRB’s dedicated, thoughtful leadership.”

 

Stop by the Chamber of Commerce Office This Summer and Check out the New Map

If you haven’t done so yet, drop by our newly refreshed Visitor Information Center on Winslow Way! Take a selfie with the immensely fun window mural hand-painted by local artist Molly Brahmer, pick up your vehicle tab renewals, or swap local lore with one of our incredible Visitor Information Center volunteers.

Source Information and pictures and graphics courtesy of the City of Bainbridge Island and the Chamber of Commerce.  

If you’d like to read more articles from The Island Wanderer Blog website, click here, to subscribe to The Island Wanderer Blog, click here.

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