Skagit Ferry service drops to passenger only after bridge inspection

The Anacortes ferry link lost vehicle capacity on Monday evening after the Washington State Department of Transportation flagged a problem with the bridge infrastructure. WSDOT inspectors identified the concern during an afternoon check, prompting Skagit County to cancel all ferry operations immediately. The county said it needed to clear the bridge for further structural review before allowing traffic to flow again.

Officials arranged two emergency passenger-only runs for Monday night to keep commuters moving. Arrow Launch ferries departed from Cap Sante A Dock at 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Crews were stationed on site to scan tickets and assist passengers. Because the boats were not leaving from the standard terminal, the county asked travelers to use designated parking areas at the Port of Anacortes. Signs marked off-limit zones to keep port operations running.

The disruption continued into Tuesday morning, October 27. Arrow Launch resumed passenger service on the regular schedule. The first departure left Cap Sante at 6:30 a.m., with the final run scheduled for 9:15 a.m. The county noted that passengers with mobility challenges should speak with the crew upon arrival. Staff were prepared to help board the vessel from the non-standard location.

Skagit County said the additional bridge inspections were set for Tuesday morning. The agency promised to release more details on the bridge's status and the future of ferry service once those checks were finished. Until then, the public would wait for the next official update on the situation.