Mukilteo ferry detoured

By JANICE PODSADA

Herald Writer

MUKILTEO — Major repairs to the Mukilteo ferry terminal will keep the terminal closed to vehicle traffic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except Saturday until Feb. 15, Washington State Ferry officials said. The closures begin Monday.

Monday through Friday, ferry service from Mukilteo to Clinton will be provided during the hours of repair by a passenger-only ferry. The passenger vessel, the St. Nicholas, will provide walk-on service at both the Clinton and Mukilteo terminals, depending on the weather.

On windy days, the service may be canceled, ferry officials said. Commuters are advised to listen to radio and TV for travel alternatives.

Sunday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., vehicle ferries to Clinton will be available at the Edmonds ferry dock, and vehicle ferries that normally dock at Mukilteo will be rerouted to Edmonds.

Washington State Patrol officers will be on hand in Edmonds during the closure to direct Clinton traffic to the appropriate lanes, as well as to keep an eye on the increased traffic, ferry officials said.

Regular ferry service will be available Saturdays during the repair period. And holiday commuters will have normal vehicle ferry service during the holidays.

The regular fall schedule will remain in place from Dec. 22 through Dec. 26, as well as from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1.

During the closure, the Mukilteo terminal’s wooden wing walls will be replaced with steel wing walls. Steel wing walls are stronger and can absorb much harder impacts than wooden wing walls, ferry officials said.

In addition, construction crews will repair the terminal’s towers.

The Mukilteo Ferry Terminal, which was built in 1952, is a single slip terminal serving Clinton, Whidbey Island’s southern point of departure.