The existing walkway at the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal is more than 50 years old. It's supported by wood piles that could collapse during a major earthquake. Replacing this walkway with one constructed to withstand a large seismic event makes it possible to continue loading vehicles on the car deck while pedestrians simultaneously load the ferry from the overhead passenger walkway. More than 3.2 million commuters, travelers and tourists used the Bainbridge ferry terminal overhead walkway annually before the pandemic. We're starting to see a return of walk-on ridership on this route.
We will replace the existing wooden-supported walkway with a new steel-fortified walkway anchored by concrete and steel columns. The new walkway is designed to withstand a major earthquake. This project also will refresh outdated mechanical and electrical components that power the existing overhead loading bridge. The final design aligns with WSF's 2040 Long Range Plan and incorporates input from the community about the types of windows, flooring and other design details.
At the start of the project in 2018, we asked for input from the public about the design of the overhead loading walkway. In response, we took the feedback we heard to our design team. Below is a summary of major design changes that were influenced by public outreach.
What we changed from the 2018 public outreach effort
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What we heard during the design phase
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What we’ve incorporated in the final design
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The new walkway should make sure to have appropriate ventilation. What about operable windows along the whole walkway?
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Operable windows will be installed on both sides of the spans. Air will be able to flow through one side of the span and out the other side.
There is a continuous weather protected horizontal gap between the tops and bottoms of the walls. In addition, there will be intermittent vertical gaps on the walls. The gaps, combined with the operable windows, should provide energy saving natural ventilation.
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Will people be able to see outside from the walkway? The new walkway should have clear glass instead of the current frosted glass.
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The new facility will have clear glass windows along the entire top portion of the walkway.
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WSF shouldn’t carpet the walkway, but they should still make sure the floor has good traction.
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The flooring will not be carpeted and will have a non-slip surface like concrete sidewalks.
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Will the entire space be enclosed?
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The spans will be almost fully enclosed with a small space between the windows and the walls for ventilation.
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Will the bike lanes be relocated?
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This project does not include permanent changes to the existing bike lane or creation of new bike lanes. WSF may temporarily narrow the existing bike lane at times during construction.
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The space should be warm and draft-free in the colder months. The ventilation gaps should prevent rain and cold coming in.
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Overhead infrared heaters will be installed where passengers typically line up to wait. The windows will also completely close if needed. The upper and lower horizontal gaps are weather protected.
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