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):

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• 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 - Spring 2026

Recently completed construction

• Anacortes lower attendant shack replacement
• Anacortes wingwall timbers 
• Bainbridge slip 1 live load hanger bar replacement and landing aid repair
• Eagle Harbor slip B cylinder swap-out
• Eagle Harbor repairs to conduit under trestle and pile under building
• Fauntleroy trestle piling and bridge seat supports
• Kingston dolphin repairs
• Lopez Island wingwall repairs
• Seattle landing aid repairs

Ongoing construction activity

• Coupeville hoist replacement
• Coupeville paint preservation
• Orcas Island restroom plumbing
• Orcas Island bridge seat hinge upgrade
• Tahlequah holding lane cameras

Upcoming projects

• Anacortes pavement exit lanes
• Clinton settling tank for terminal building restroom 
• Point Defiance dolphin repairs
• Orcas Island weigh-in-motion system
• Tahlequah dolphin repairs
• Tahlequah crosswalk repairs
• Vashon camera for Southworth lane

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.