Ferry terminal maintenance

We contract out roughly $3 million in terminal maintenance construction each year. These contracts address short-term issues identified through facility inspections prior to larger replacement projects. We also conduct a large portion of maintenance work with in-house staff and by working with various WSDOT regions.

Proper terminal maintenance helps prevent ferry service disruptions. The contracted work covers the following (see diagrams for visuals of terminal structures and components):

• Landing aids (wingwalls and dolphins): Fenders, chains, rub faces and piling on elements against which vessels land.
• Transfer span: Aprons, towers, bridge seats and electrical and mechanical systems associated with vehicle transfer span components.
• Overhead loading: Fixed walkways, foundations, electrical and mechanical systems, elevator cabs and transfer associated with overhead loading structures.
• Trestle: Piling, caps, stringers, cross bracing, decking and concrete associated with trestle components and bulkheads.
• Painting: Painting of all steel, including piling, transfer spans, overhead loading and landing aids.
• Facilities: Utilities, building systems, painting (other than steel) and septic systems.
• Pavement: Grading, paving, asphalt sealing and overlays.
• Vendor work: Preventative maintenance items (typically less than $10,000 each), including bird deterrent systems, cleaning, compactor and elevator work, fender purchases, fire systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, inspection permits, landscaping, equipment rentals, towing, signing and striping.

Status - Fall 2023

Recently completed construction

• Bremerton slip 2 emergency hanger bar replacement
• Bremerton automatic door replacement
• Bremerton fire system alarm replacement
• Clinton trestle paving and slip 1 transfer span overlay
• Eagle Harbor shore power repair slips A-D
• Eagle Harbor slip D gangway repair
• Fauntleroy sewer tank replacement
• Fauntleroy left outer dolphin repairs (emergency)
• Fauntleroy pile 34J and 29C repair
• Point Defiance counterweight cable replacement
• Seattle Pier 48 fencing (phase 2)
• Tahlequah counterweight cable replacement and timber light pole replacement

Ongoing construction activity

• Clinton trench drain repairs, beach clean-up
• Eagle Harbor slip F drive-on tie-up slip (capital replacement)
• Southworth maintenance walkway around building
• Point Defiance, Tahlequah paving, trestle and wingwall pile repairs 
• Shaw vehicle bridge hoist brake replacement

Upcoming projects

• Edmonds left outer dolphin repairs
• Kingston wingwall repairs
• Southworth roof replacement
• Southworth walkway deck repairs
• Tahlequah dolphin repairs

We solicit bids for an on-call contract for offshore repairs that require a floating derrick barge every two years. Once awarded to a contractor, the work is completed on an as-needed basis. We also solicit bids for an on-call contract for painting work. Other contract work is designed and bid out to private contractors.