TERMINAL 5: Opening delayed until next year

5:25 PM: The Northwest Seaport Alliance was supposed to present an update on the Terminal 5 modernization plan this past Tuesday, but pulled it from the agenda at the last minute, saying “several recent project changes” had rendered the planned update “outdated.” Here’s a big change: The NWSA just announced that T-5’s opening is being pushed back at least half a year. Here’s the announcement:

Terminal 5 to Open Q1 2022, Revising Earlier Estimates

The Northwest Seaport Alliance Terminal 5 Modernization Project is a critical component to expanding our cargo-handling capabilities. This facility will allow our region to remain globally competitive and grow our local economy. Due to the complex nature of this large infrastructure construction combined with unforeseen circumstances, this project is now seeing schedule impacts. To ensure project quality and a robust facility with construction that will last for decades, the NWSA now expects Phase 1 of the project to be targeted for completion by the end of Q4, 2021, rather than the expected Q2 of 2021.

The NWSA will be providing a full project update during the March Managing Members meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 2nd at 11:30am. This project remains a top priority and alongside our tenant, SSAT, we are committed to delivering the modernized Terminal 5 facility as soon as possible. We continue to believe this project is critical to maintaining economic and industrial diversity in our region and living wage jobs that are key to building an equitable and resilient economy.

At the February 2nd meeting of the Managing Members, commissioners approved three items relating to T5 construction, specifically the South Reefers Repair, Clean Truck Program and Radiation Portal Monitors/U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Booth Power Infrastructure. Piling and other construction work continues on the project.

This has ramifications for other things, such as West Seattle Low Bridge access, which has been reserving capacity for T-5 trucks. We’ll be following up.

6:29 PM: For the record, this is the memo and slide deck for the briefing that was supposed to happen on Tuesday. When the lease was announced – exactly two years ago tomorrow – it was envisioned the north berth could be open as soon as last month.

AB83 February 4, 2021 (5:41 pm)

OK so now there’s room to open up the Low Bridge for Harbor a Island workers that live in West Seattle. come on SDOT do the right thing here and give back access to the people used it before this whole thing began.

skeeter February 5, 2021 (11:46 am)

I’m a West Seattle fella who works on Harbor Island, too. If you need to drive across the bridge to get your job done, talk to your employer. There are passes available. For commuting, it’s not too bad to just park on the West Seattle side and walk or bike across the bridge to get to work. There is also *extremely* frequent bus service between West Seattle and Harbor Island if you don’t want to walk or bike. My commute between West Seattle and Harbor Island is super easy and enjoyable. I bike most of the time and take the bus if the weather is really crummy. But I’m young and healthy. I’m sure it’s a much bigger problem for those who are not able to easily walk, bike, or take transit.
- AB83 February 5, 2021 (3:52 pm)
  
  Skeeter…. i’ve talk to my employer I’ve talk to SDOT As well as other people who are connected with the situation somehow multiple times. I’ve watched many zoom meetings regarding this whole mess and have asked questions based on Harbor Island Island workers accessing the Low Bridge many times and have never been offered a pass. And they just keep adding people to the list it is very frustrating.
  - WSB February 5, 2021 (4:00 pm)
    
    What specific reason have you been given? Does anyone at your place of employment have access, to your knowledge?
    - AB83 February 5, 2021 (5:37 pm)
      
      The reason I have been given..is at this time we are not able to further expand access to the low bridge. And as far as I know no one that I work with that lives in West Seattle has authorization to use the low bridge.
  - skeeter February 6, 2021 (8:34 am)
    
    AB83 – just to clarify if we are talking about the same thing. The low bridge passes are not available for commuters. I live in West Seattle and work on Harbor Island and I do not qualify for a pass to use the lower bridge. The people in my office who qualify for the pass are those with job responsibilities on both Harbor Island and West Seattle. They can use their vehicle to drive back and forth between job sites over the lower bridge. They are not allowed to commute over the bridge. Sorry for your troubles. It’s a hassle.

CarDriver February 4, 2021 (6:43 pm)

Also, no cruise ship season this year. Canada announced a ban on cruise ships until 2/28/22. I had a cruise to Alaska this May. It’s been cancelled. Because of the Jones act they can’t bypass BC and go straight to AK.