Wahkiakum - Wahkiakum Ferry
Project Number: 1743
From milepost 0.034 to milepost 1.034
RATA Funds: $1,250,000
Legislative District: 19
Status:
Date Approved: 2011
In June 1925, the first ferry was brought to Puget Island. Around 1960, the Wahkiakum County taxpayers voted to take over the ferry service when the private enterprise ceased operations. The Washington State legislature determined there was a State interest in the interstate crossing around 1970, and began to share in some of the cost of operation of the ferry service. The County owns and maintains the ferry ramp bridge at the end of SR 409, and owns and maintains the ferry, which is a vital interstate transportation connection on the lower Columbia River.
The previous ferry, Wahkiakum, constructed in the early 1960's, began to suffer deficiencies in thickness of the hull's steel plating. It's limited capacity meant that during peak travel periods, some vehicles had to remain behind for a second run. The Wahkiakum was not ADA compliant and presented limitations for some vehicle types needing cross-state access when local State highways were closed and was traffic detoured to the ferry route.
The new ferry Oscar B. provides approximately double the vehicle capacity of the Wahkiakum, is ADA compliant, and meets modern Coast Guard standards of construction. It has the ability to carry all legal highway loads. The public has indicated they are pleased with the appearance of the new ferry, and thankful that they can all fit on the deck, and plan on crossing on the next ferry departure. In conjunction with delivery of the new ferry boat, which was constructed by Ice Floe and Nichols Brothers, the ferry channel and berthing area were re-aligned and dredged through via an agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Modifications to the landing pile configuration to accommodate the larger vessel have been made, and a source of potable water to the vessel was added under a separate contract. Improvements to the ramp at Westport, Oregon were made by partners in Clatsop County to accommodate the larger vessel.
The previous ferry, Wahkiakum, constructed in the early 1960's, began to suffer deficiencies in thickness of the hull's steel plating. It's limited capacity meant that during peak travel periods, some vehicles had to remain behind for a second run. The Wahkiakum was not ADA compliant and presented limitations for some vehicle types needing cross-state access when local State highways were closed and was traffic detoured to the ferry route.
The new ferry Oscar B. provides approximately double the vehicle capacity of the Wahkiakum, is ADA compliant, and meets modern Coast Guard standards of construction. It has the ability to carry all legal highway loads. The public has indicated they are pleased with the appearance of the new ferry, and thankful that they can all fit on the deck, and plan on crossing on the next ferry departure. In conjunction with delivery of the new ferry boat, which was constructed by Ice Floe and Nichols Brothers, the ferry channel and berthing area were re-aligned and dredged through via an agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Modifications to the landing pile configuration to accommodate the larger vessel have been made, and a source of potable water to the vessel was added under a separate contract. Improvements to the ramp at Westport, Oregon were made by partners in Clatsop County to accommodate the larger vessel.