Fatigue cracks in two steel supports beneath the Orcas Island ferry terminal transfer span have restricted truck traffic and pushed some essential freight onto commercial barges while emergency repairs move ahead.
Washington State Ferries engineers discovered the cracks during a routine inspection of the underside of the transfer span, the movable section of the terminal bridge that raises and lowers to meet arriving ferries. The damage was found in two stringers beneath one of the vehicle wheel paths.
For now, only vehicles 22' or shorter and weighing no more than 8,000 lbs. can use the span. Drivers must cross at no more than 5 mph and stay on the east side while loading and unloading. Larger vehicles are not being accepted for trips to Orcas Island.
San Juan County declared a state of emergency Nov. 10, citing the disruption to goods and services reaching the island. The county said providers of food, medical supplies, sanitation services, and other essential goods are using temporary alternatives, including contracted barge service, but face added cost and capacity constraints.
County emergency-management officials are working with affected businesses and private barge owners while the restrictions remain in place. The emergency declaration also asks Washington state officials to consider financial assistance for businesses forced to use more expensive transportation alternatives.
Washington State Ferries said repairs could take up to two weeks. The repair design is complete, and crews are using bolted steel plates rather than welding in an effort to speed the work. The agency is also evaluating whether larger vehicles could be allowed across the span before the full repair is finished.
The current structural repair comes several months before previously scheduled work on the Orcas terminal transfer span. In March 2027, WSF plans a 48-hour terminal closure to replace aging mechanical and electrical lift components, including the lift beam, counterweights, cables, and related equipment. Similar work is planned at other terminals in the system.
The planned 2027 project concerns the transfer span’s lift machinery and related components, while the current emergency repair involves the cracked structural stringers beneath the roadway. WSF has not publicly linked the two issues.
The agency said the vehicle restrictions will remain in place while crews complete the repair.
