Pad for ferry construction starts today at Crescent Bay

Construction is starting today on new concrete pad and underground electrical installation at the Crescent Bay boat launch on Lake Roosevelt.

The 145-foot by 84-foot pad will serve as a site for the later assembly of a new ferry boat for the Keller Ferry.

The boat, currently being built in three pieces by Foss Maritime of Oregon, will be delivered for final assembly to the Crescent Bay site operated by the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.

National Park Service spokesman John Edwards said the schedule for that assembly has changed. The new ferry was originally scheduled for final assembly in March, but uncertainty about lake levels at that time led the contractor to question the prudence of committing to that schedule, since spring lake levels in the reservoir controlled by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation can launch access out of reach.

Edwards said he thought an August launch is in the new schedule.

Access to the boat launch will not be affected by the construction, he said, but the large parking lot will be partially occupied by equipment and materials.

The new pad will remain in the back corner of the area after the launch is complete.