WATER TAXI UPDATE: West Seattle dock out of service until at least Monday

| King County Water Taxi | Transportation | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Water Taxi, out of service since Wednesday afternoon because of a problem at the Seacrest dock, will not be back until at least Monday. Here’s the update from King County Department of Transportation:

On Wednesday, Oct 28, a routine inspection at the Seacrest dock identified wear and damage to one of the pins and swing arms which supports the connection of the ramp to the shore. After further assessment, as a safety precaution, a decision was made to replace the entire dock-to-shore hinge and attachment mechanism. Work is underway to fabricate new attachment arms per specifications provided by the original manufacturer. A contractor will be onsite on Friday with a boom truck to lift the ramp in order to complete these repairs. Repairs will extend into the weekend and updates will be provided as necessary.

During this time, Water Taxi shuttle routes 773 and 775 will continue to operate as usual in West Seattle.

The Water Taxi’s floating dock at Seacrest was installed more than a decade ago.

P.S. Here’s a KCDOT photo of one of the problem parts:

The replacement arms were being fabricated at Pacific Fishermen & Electric.

John October 29, 2020 (1:50 pm)

Is it just me, or does it seem it’s getting harder to get out of West Seattle?

Worried Westy October 29, 2020 (2:13 pm)

Wow, the bridge, the 1st avenue bridge and now the dock? Is it just me or is this the beginning of a “You can’t leave West Seattle” movie?

Chongos Brown October 29, 2020 (2:27 pm)

West Seattle Update: West Seattle out of service until at least 2022.

HappyOnAlki October 29, 2020 (2:38 pm)

Of course. It’s 2020.

John Enger October 29, 2020 (3:41 pm)

I drove by about the same time you did….why isn’t anyone down there working on it?????

WSB October 29, 2020 (9:02 pm)

Because the piece is being fabricated. Which reminds me I have a few details to add above.

Alki resident October 29, 2020 (4:20 pm)

West Seattle needs an exorcism. Like yesterday

momosmom October 29, 2020 (6:00 pm)

Why is it that I’m assuming WS drivers heading SB on the 1st Ave bridge know they need either the 1st exit or the 2nd exit to get their way home that they wait to the last minute to get over from the far right lane into the left hand lane…I don’t know how many times I have had to slam on my brakes because turn signal on and immediately jump in front of you (middle lane)and then when they can’t get into exit lane they slow down to a stop! YES I am venting

momosmom October 29, 2020 (6:57 pm)

GEEZ it’s been a long week..I meant far left lane to the right lane! And I’ve calmed down now LOL!

Dan October 30, 2020 (6:43 am)

I know I’m not an engineer or anything close to one of our highly educated government officials but is a piece of steel plating, steel rod, a welder and half a clue about anything that hard to find these days??? SERIOUSLY? Looking at the events of 2020 leaves me absolutely terrified to think about what will happen the day Seattle is faced with an actual emergency situation……smh

Chris K October 30, 2020 (7:36 am)

My wife and I are fortunate that we do not need to commute from West Seattle for our jobs.

T Rex October 30, 2020 (8:21 am)

Same thing happens when approaching the bride heading down on Roxbury. The left lane moves faster because we don’t need to use the 1st south bridge but low and behold, someone who obviously is much to important to wait in line slams on their brakes and cuts in line to get into the right lane and on the bridge. Entitlement at it’s best.

Ex-Westwood Resident October 30, 2020 (11:30 am)

This is NOT something that happens over-night. Junctions like this need to be checked, at least, on a monthly basis. By the look of these…they haven’t been checked in MONTHS, if not YEARS!!!

To allow these fittings to become as warped and damaged as they are is the result of negligence.

These fittings are NO different than the fittings that secure the Gangway from the pier to Navy ship. If it was, the person responsible for checking these fittings would be in front of the CO at mast (UCMJ Art. 15 for that are wondering).

Someone needs to take charge at DoT , or their negligence is going to cause someone to die!!!

Mike October 30, 2020 (11:33 am)

Looks like the crew has competed work on the dock and is packing up.

WSB October 30, 2020 (11:39 am)

Thanks! We went by to look about two hours ago and it didn’t appear to be in progress yet, going back that way in about half an hour. – TR

luke n zankich November 17, 2020 (4:40 pm)

Worst engineering I have ever seen! The cheek plates on either side of the center padeye MUST be up close to the center padeye with the pin (not the cotter pins) holding both cheek plates against it. What you are seeing is pins that are incorrectly too long, and do not fix the parts and pin from moving sideways. The way they put this together allows the pins to bend instead of being in shear. This movement of the pin and plates is also allowing the surfaces to wear rapidly. Unless they fix the overall design this will happen again, and again. The pins should be bolts with a crown nut to fix the nut so it keeps the the cheek plates against the washer, which is against the padeye. I just visited the pier Nov 17 2020, and they just did the same flawed installation again! Unbelievable that city engineers would approve this repair. But then again they did allow a bridge to be damaged while they watched the bearings were being crushed and they knew it was causing cracking and stress.

Luke Zankich November 17, 2020 (4:44 pm)

Here is the incorrectly repaired hinge. They even only put the isolation washer on one side! It needs to be on both sides.

Luke N Zankich November 17, 2020 (5:19 pm)

Not the only gangway hinge fail either. Check out the Blake Island gangway. They used a shackle instead of a pin! Insane incompetence. Look at what that shackle is doing to the softer padeye material!

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