Travelers who use Washington’s Keller Ferry to cross the Columbia River between Lincoln and Ferry Counties will have to find an alternate route for the next two weeks.
Ryan Overton from the Washington Department of Transportation says the ferry will be out of service from today [Monday] through October 2. He says crews are doing the final work on replacing the terminals and pontoons at both ends of the route. That’s a major upgrade, but Overton acknowledges it will cause some short-term hassle for the people who regularly use the ferry.
“It is a major thoroughfare for many of the local residents that live in the Keller, Republic, a lot of the Colville Tribe. The school buses actually go through that route and, unfortunately, this is a 60-mile detour for them. They have all been notified and are aware of the upcoming closure, however," Overton said.
Overton says one detour is State Route 25 to and from Davenport. Another involves State Routes 155 and 174. He urges travelers to add an hour to their expected time on the road.