Get Ready for a Crazy Commute Week – Sept. 7-13 – as New Walkway is Inserted at the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal

Kevin Dwyer | Posted on August 31, 2023 |

If you’re a drive-on ferry commuter between Bainbridge and Seattle, your life is going to be a wee bit hectic during the week of Sept. 7 and Sept. 13 when Washington State Ferries replaces the existing overhead wooden walkway at the Bainbridge terminal with a wider, safer concrete and steel facility built to current seismic code.

The $33 million pedestrian walkway project will reach its milestone over that six day span when work crews lift the new walkway structures into place on their concrete and steel pilings. The actual work will happen from 1 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 7 to 3 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13.

For those six days, WSF will use a one-boat sailing schedule and load only walk-on and ADA passengers via the existing walkway. There will be no drive-on passenger service between Bainbridge Island and Seattle. This includes vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and electric scooters. WSF is planning to have additional staff on hand to assist with the anticipated uptick in walk-on ridership.

“We will make accommodations for emergency medical vehicles, in coordination with local emergency services,” said Suanne Pelley, Construction Communications Manager. “We are also exploring additional service options on other routes. The decision will be based on crewing availability and the overall service restoration plan.”

Vehicle holding becomes a staging and work zone

The graphic shows why crews will need the entire vehicle holding area to carry out their work. The four bridge spans will arrive by barge from Tacoma and will be rolled off into the ferry holding lanes. The longest span, sections 1 and 2 joined together, weighs 90 tons and measures 199 feet long and 18 feet wide. Over two to three days, all four spans will be lifted by cranes and set into place. The other three to four days are needed to erect and stage cranes and equipment, then dismantle and demobilize them.

No bicycles or scooters

WSF separates walk-on and ADA passengers from wheeled vehicles for passenger safety, which is why it cannot accommodate bicycles and electric scooters during the closure. “With higher pedestrian volumes, it is not feasible or safe for us to mix pedestrians with bicycles and scooters both inside the ferry and in the terminal waiting areas,” explained Pelley. “For those who want to store their bikes for use on either side of the route, the Kitsap Transit Bike Barn has 79 indoor and 33 outdoor bike parking spaces and we will provide a secure lock up area on the Seattle side or check into bike lockers. Another option is to walk on and use bike share in Seattle.”

Alternate routes for drivers

WSF is encouraging people who normally drive aboard to walk on and use public transit in Seattle or Bainbridge Island. If you need to drive during this time, WSF recommends planning ahead to using one of these alternate routes:

Edmonds/Kingston ferry
Seattle/Bremerton ferry
Kitsap fast ferry from Bremerton to Seattle (walk-on service)

“We know this poses challenges for commuters and other travelers on this route,” Pelley added. “Working with the contractor, we strove to compress this work into a time frame that will have the least effect on the public. There is simply never a good time to close ferry service on this busy route. Please see the FAQs below for more information.

Parking squeeze

If you plan to park and walk onto the boat on Bainbridge Island, be aware that parking will be tight. WSF’s lot has 86 spaces, including 10 ADA stalls. Expect stiff competition for those spots. Adjacent paid parking lots offer more options. Kitsap Transit park and ride lots offer about 150 spaces. The streets of downtown Winslow are off limits to commuter parking.

For more information on the closure: Subscribe to project emails.

The interior of the new ADA-compliant passenger walkway will include operable windows with views to the water, seating, and infrared heaters for comfort while awaiting the ferry.

The existing walkway at the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal is more than 50 years old. It is supported by wood piles that could collapse during a major earthquake. Replacing this walkway with one constructed to withstand a large seismic event makes it possible to continue loading vehicles on the car deck while pedestrians simultaneously load the ferry from the overhead passenger walkway.

More than 3.2 million commuters, travelers and tourists used the Bainbridge ferry terminal overhead walkway annually before the pandemic. WSF is starting to see a return of walk-on ridership on this route, similar to pre-pandemic loads.

“The new walkway is designed to withstand a major earthquake,” Pelley said. “This project also will refresh outdated mechanical and electrical components that power the existing overhead loading bridge. The final design aligns with WSF’s 2040 Long Range Plan and incorporates input from the community about the types of windows, flooring and other design details.”

FAQs about September 7 to 13 closure to vehicles

Question	Answer
When and what times will service be closed to vehicles?	This work will happen from 1 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 7 to 3 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13. Ferry service will resume for vehicles on Sept. 13.
Why do you need the full holding area to do this work?	The holding lanes are needed for semi trucks to deliver equipment to the site and to stage cranes, four large bridge spans, and equipment needed to lift and lower those bridge spans into place on their pilings. Two to three of the six-days are needed to lift and set the spans into place. The remaining days are needed to set up, take down, and demobilize construction equipment. The four bridge spans will arrive by barge from Tacoma and be rolled off into the ferry holding lanes as shown in the photos at the maps & drawings tab. The longest span, sections 1 and 2 joined together, weighs 45 tons and measures 199 feet long and 18 feet wide.
Why can’t you accommodate any vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, electric scooters, during this closure?	The entire holding area from the toll booths to the water is needed to stage the bridge spans, cranes, counterweights for cranes, semi trucks, and much more as shown in the graphic on the maps & drawings tab. This will take up all available space.
How will emergency vehicles get off the island during the closure?	We will make accommodations for emergency medical vehicles, in coordination with local emergency services, according to existing procedures.
When does the sailing schedule change and what is the schedule during the closure?	For these six days, we’ll use the alternate one-boat sailing schedule and load only walk-on and ADA passengers via the existing walkway.
What about alternate sailing routes?	If you need to drive during this time, plan ahead to use one of these alternate routes: Edmonds/Kingston ferry Seattle/Bremerton ferry Kitsap fast ferry from Bremerton to Seattle (walk-on service only) King County Water Taxi
Where will you send the second boat that’s normally on the Seattle/Bainbridge route?	We’re looking at the option to add a third boat to the Edmonds/Kingston route, add a second boat to the Seattle/Bremerton schedule, and at keeping the second boat on the Seattle/Bainbridge route that weekend when there are multiple events in the area. It’s too soon to settle on a plan as we continue to work with crewing constraints. We don’t want our customers or event planners to make decisions based on service we may not be able to provide.
Why can’t you accommodate bikes via the overhead walkway during the closure?	We separate walk-on and ADA passengers from wheeled vehicles for passenger safety. With higher pedestrian volumes, it is not feasible or safe for us to mix pedestrians with bicycles and scooters both inside the ferry and in the terminal waiting areas. Neither the Bainbridge Island or Colman Dock terminals or passenger walkways were designed to mix walk-on and bicycle traffic—even during short durations.
Will you offer bike storage on both sides of the route?	For those who want to store their bikes for use on either side of the route, the Kitsap Transit Bike Barn has 79 indoor and 33 outdoor bike parking spaces and we will provide a secure lock up area on the Seattle side. We will provide more details on how that will work as we get closer to the closure.
How about other options for bikes?	From Bainbridge, you can walk on and use bike share in Seattle.
What about parking near the Bainbridge ferry terminal.	WSF lot has 86 public parking spaces, including 10 ADA stalls. Parking near the terminal is expected to fill up. Find more information about parking lots adjacent to and including WSF lot. There is no commuter parking on the streets in downtown Winslow.
What options do I have for public transit in Seattle?	King County Metro Sound Transit Seattle Electric Scooter and Bike Share
Where can I sign up for regular updates.	Bainbridge Ferry Terminal Overhead Walkway project newsletter.