We’re reached the final month of 2017, and construction on King County Water Taxi’s future passenger-only terminal continues (even though our riders might not realize the progress we’ve made).

Check out this overhead photograph from Nov. 17. You can see that near our future site there are several barges, a couple of which carried giant cranes used for the project.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, the contractor has installed more than half of the 167 steel piles that will support the southern section of Colman Dock. Our future passenger facility represents the first step in the replacement of the state’s busiest terminal.

In addition to pile driving, crews also are making good progress on sediment capping, another type of in-water work. Sediment capping improves water quality for fish and other marine life by using layers of gravel and rock to cover any contaminated sediment on the sea floor below the dock.

Pile driving activity is expected to continue through mid-February 2018.

When the passenger facility is complete – expected in the fall of next year – riders will be able to enjoy a covered, 8,000-square-foot terminal that will serve both King County Water Taxi and Kitsap Fast Ferry service. Later, it also will offer access to an elevated pedestrian walkway that will connect our riders to WSF’s Colman Dock terminal.

In the meantime, our riders have been patient and understanding while we operate out of our temporary location at Pier 52, on the north side of Colman Dock. Thank you to the best riders around!