Starting Friday, Edmonds residents should brace themselves for an influx of ferry traffic when the Mukilteo ferry terminal shuts down for extensive preservation work, and a temporary Edmonds-Clinton run is established.

The Washington State Department of Transportation will close the Mukilteo Terminal Friday through Sunday on March 18-20, March 25-27 and April 1-3.

During the closures, crews will work on the transfer span and apron that link the vessel and the dock, replacing mechanical and electrical systems that operate these movable components. The Edmonds/Clinton ferry schedule will have 17 sailings on Friday and 16 on Saturday and Sunday, compared to 37 and 35 respectively on the normal Mukilteo/Clinton route and schedule. The crossing time between Edmonds and Clinton is approximately 50 minutes. The schedule is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/ferries/mukilteoterminal/preservation/MukilteoTerminalClosure.htm.

Note that there is a change to the Friday temporary sailing schedule that will be in effect during the closures of the Mukilteo Terminal: Friday-only sailing changes include: From Clinton: the 4:40 p.m. sailing is now at 5:20 p.m.; the 6:55 p.m. sailing is now at 7:40 p.m. and the 9:20 p.m. sailing is now at 9:50 p.m. From Edmonds: the 6:35 p.m. sailing is now at 5:45 p.m.; the 8 p.m. sailing is now at 8:45 p.m. and the 10:40 pm. sailing is now at 10:50 p.m. New copies of the temporary schedules will be available at the tollbooths beginning Friday, March 11.

WSDOT is working with local community groups to minimize disruptions where possible. Customers can contact sharris@wsdot.wa.gov to set up temporary carpools so they will receive preferential loading. For more information, visit the website at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/ferries/mukilteoterminal/preservation.