Having mild West Seattle Bridge closure flashbacks? Washington State Ferries (WSF) has limited service on the Seattle/Bainbridge Island route to just walk-ons from Thursday, Sept. 7 to Wednesday, Sept. 13 while crews work on renovating a pedestrian bridge. That means no cars, bikes, or scooters for a week.
It’s a relatively short closure timeframe for vehicles, but as WSF’s most popular route, it’s likely to make a few waves. Here’s a little background on why this is happening and how you can still get back and forth over Elliott Bay with your vehicle.
Stop, renovate, and listen
The big shut down is happening so crews can replace a 50-year-old pedestrian walkway at the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal. During the week, they’ll be placing four bridge spans totaling 338 ft in length and will need the car loading area for cranes to safely operate.
This work keeps WSF’s $33 million Bainbridge terminal renovation project on track for a 2024 completion date.
Taking the road less traveled
It can be a bit of a pain finding alternative transportation methods in times like this, but here are some options if you can’t just hoof it.
- Take another ferry route. WSF is adding extra boats between Edmonds and Kingston to help ease pressure. Bremerton may also be an alternative.
- Note that bikes are allowed on the Kitsap Fast Ferry.
- WSF also has a list of public transit options for those who need help getting to the Bainbridge terminal without a car.
- Drive over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge while tracking traffic conditions.
But hang in there — the ferry will be back up before you know it.