Broch Bender, communications, 206-305-5516
WSF media hotline, 206-402-8070

Seattle ferry routes on temporary schedule July 13-15 due to construction at Colman Dock

SEATTLE – One of two available slips will close so contractor crews can pour a new concrete walkway as part of the Colman Dock Project. Due to the closure, all sailings to and from Seattle will follow a temporary sailing schedule Saturday, July 13, through Monday, July 15.

The new walkway will connect the southern slip to the temporary terminal building, scheduled to open in early August. It is not possible to maintain access to the southern slip from the existing terminal and install the new concrete walkway at the same time.  

“Doing this work now keeps us on track to move out of the existing terminal building in August, which in turn keeps our contractor on schedule to finish the entire Colman Dock Project in early 2023,” said Carl Vogt, construction project engineer. “Washington State Ferries remains committed to maintaining ferry service while we rebuild our seismically vulnerable flagship terminal. We are all in this together, and we thank everyone for their continued patience throughout construction,” said Vogt.

To prevent more than one ferry from arriving at or departing from the slip at the same time, customers should expect:

• Vessel departure times to shift between five and 30 minutes throughout the weekend and Monday.
• No significant changes to early Monday morning Bainbridge Island and Bremerton departures.
• Fewer sailings out of Colman Dock during Monday’s afternoon commute.

Plan ahead for July 13-15 changes
With limited vehicle waiting space Saturday, July 13, through Monday, July 15, customers should consider walking aboard via public transportation or biking. The Kingston Fast Ferry is another option for cross-sound trips from Kitsap County. WSF is also coordinating with Kitsap Transit to provide access to bus service to commuters during the temporary sailing schedule.

• Walk-on and drive-on riders: Departure times will be different from all three terminals, so check the temporary schedule in advance for Seattle, Bremerton and Bainbridge Island.  
• Weekend drive-on riders: If departing from Colman Dock between 1 and 8 p.m., plan to arrive up to 60 minutes before your sailing to accommodate for seasonal traffic and Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition work between South Dearborn Street and Yesler Way.
• Your trip across Elliott Bay could take more time: Crossing times could be longer when the single slip is occupied.
• Check VesselWatch: Get real-time status updates of your ferry’s location on the route.

WSF may make additional temporary timetable adjustments to accommodate future construction at Colman Dock. Project planners continue to work closely with the contractor to minimize the length and duration of these future changes.

Colman Dock is Washington State’s largest ferry terminal and supports transportation across Puget Sound between downtown Seattle and communities in Kitsap County and the Olympic Peninsula. More than 10 million people use the terminal each year, but it is aging and vulnerable to earthquake damage. Construction to replace the terminal began in August 2017 and will continue until 2023.

Washington State Ferries, a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation, is the largest ferry system in the U.S. and safely and efficiently carries nearly 25 million people a year through some of the most majestic scenery in the world. For breaking news and the latest information, follow WSF on Twitter.