Ferry work slated for April and summer

The Keller Ferry, which connects SR-21 from the Wilbur area to the Keller area, will be out of service from April 1 to April 7 for a permanent repair to be done on a weld crack that had closed the ferry from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2.

A temporary repair had been done to reopen the ferry, and when the weather warms up a permanent repair can be made, explained Ryan Overton, who works for the Eastern Region Communications of the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Overton said the repair may actually take less time, but they are giving the contractor up to a week to perform it.

The repair needs to be approved by the Coast Guard before the ferry goes back into service.

Additionally, a “Terminal and Pontoon Replacement” on the ferry will close the ferry from sometime in the summer into the early fall, the DOT website says.

“This project will replace severely corroded pontoons of the terminals on both sides of the river,” the website says. “This project replaces pontoons, decking, railing, and anchors.”

Overton explained that a start time depends on the weather and the water levels of Lake Roosevelt.