An online Open House is taking place through March 3 to inform and engage Washington State Ferries customers about $33 million in improvements to the Bainbridge Terminal.

The project will replace the almost 50-year-old wooden walkway with a new, seismically sound, steel-and-concrete fortified walkway. Construction is set to being this summer with the new walkway opening in fall over a year later. The old one will be demolished after that.

This terminal is the busiest in the state for walk-on riders. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 3.2 million people used the walkway each year, the WSF website says.

The new fully enclosed walkway will be safer during earthquakes. Creosote coated timber piles will be removed, which is better for the environment. New heating and cooling will be energy efficient. Electrical and mechanical systems will be improved, meaning fewer sailing delays. Clear glass panels will improve customer experience with better views. The walkway will be wider, straighter, shorter and less sloped to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Flooring is a non-slip surface like concrete sidewalks, rather than old carpet.

The ferry will still operate during construction. The walkway will be closed on three weekends, so customers will use the car deck.

The ferry dock will be closed to car travel for six days. There will be limited walk-on-only passenger service during that time. A ferry will be moved to Kingston-Edmonds to accommodate rerouted vehicle travel.

Noise from work such as pile driving will be limited to specific hours due to a variance granted by the city of Bainbridge.

If you’d like to comment on the project or share ideas with WSF, email WSFComms@wsdot.wa.gov

A drawing of the new walkway at the BI ferry docks. Courtesy illustration