Date:  Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Contact: Al Gilson, Public Information Officer
WSDOT Eastern Region
2714 N. Mayfair
Spokane, WA
(509)324-6015
gilsona@wsdot.wa.gov

Open house scheduled for May 11

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is planning repairs to the Martha S., the vessel that serves the Keller Ferry run across Lake Roosevelt beginning in mid-June for up to a month.

The boat will be taken out of service and drydocked on June 14, 2010 for its routine Coast Guard inspection. This is the standard full inspection the vessel undergoes every five years. In addition, a repair contractor will perform more extensive repairs on the boat’s hull, auto deck, and access hatches. There will also be some upgrades of the electronic equipment on the vessel. Work should be completed no later than July 16, 2010.

Motorists should be prepared to seek alternate routes across the Columbia River. The nearest crossings are downstream at Grand Coulee Dam or upstream via the Gifford/Inchelium ferry.

An informational Open House meeting has been scheduled to update the community on the upcoming repairs. There will also be information on the status of a replacement vessel.

Department staff will be on hand to answer questions about the overall status of the repair project and construction details. There will be no formal presentation at the Open House. Interested citizens are invited to drop by at any time during the meeting.

The open house meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Keller Community Center, 11669 S. Highway 21.

“We want to keep the community informed on the upcoming repair work, especially when it comes to the extended time frame and long detours,” said Keith Metcalf, WSDOT Eastern Region Administrator. “We also want to take this opportunity to let people know about the status of a replacement vessel.”

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