Alternatives for access to Puget Sound during Hood Canal Bridge closure

You live on the North Olympic Peninsula — and you absolutely have to get across Hood Canal between 8 p.m. Thursday and 4 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15.

For the driving options, check out the map on the front page of today’s PDN.

Other options:

* Travelers can take the Washington State Ferry at Port Townsend to Keystone on Whidbey Island.

Access from Whidbey Island to the I-5 corridor is possible across the Deception Pass Bridge traveling north, or via ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo.

The state ferries are increasing service during this week’s bridge closure and the Aug. 21-25 closure.

Check the state ferries’ Web site at www.wsdot.wa. gov/ferries, or phone 1-888-808.7977, for the schedules.

* Aqua Express, a 250-passenger high-speed catamaran, will run between Port Townsend and Seattle between Friday and Sunday.

In Seattle, the vessel will depart from and arrive at Argosy Cruises at Pier 65 next to Washington State Ferries’ Coleman Dock.

In Port Townsend, it will depart from and arrive at the Northwest Maritime Center Dock at the far end of Water Street.

There is parking for the ferry at the Park and Ride lot next to Safeway at the entrance to Port Townsend’s downtown. There are downtown shuttles every 20 minutes. There will be shuttle service in the evening for return trips.

The ferry trip takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Tickets, which are non-refundable, can be purchased at the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce Web site; Quimper Sound Music & Media, 901 Water St., Port Townsend; in person at the Port Townsend Visitor Center, 2437 Sims Way; or by calling the Visitor Center at 360-385-2722.

Tickets are $7.50 one-way and $15 round trip.

The Aqua Express leaves Seattle at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

It leaves Port Townsend at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

* Kenmore Air Express flies seven daily scheduled flights between Seattle and William R. Fairchild Airport in Port Angeles.

Mountain High Aviation offers charter service available from Sequim Valley Airport.

Kenmore and Mountain High both land at Boeing Field in Seattle.

Mountain High’s phone number is 800-595-7640.

Kenmore Air can be contacted at 800-543-9595.

* You can charter a plane to Seattle and elsewhere from Rite Bros. Aviation in Port Angeles by phoning 360-452-6226.

* You can always leave the driving to someone else by booking passage on Olympic Bus Lines at 360-417-0700 or going to www.olympicbuslines.com.

* The Port Ludlow Chamber of Commerce will provide free passenger-only ferry service between Port Ludlow and Kingston on Aug. 22-24 during the second bridge closure.

The temporary ferry run will operate in cooperation with Jefferson Transit, Kitsap Transit, the Port of Kingston, Port Ludlow Associates and the Inn at Port Ludlow.

Aqua Express’ 150-seat backup ferry, The Two Harbors, will transport passengers between Port Ludlow Marina and its docking facility next to the Kingston state ferry terminal during that closure.

As planned, passengers will be picked up near the Port Ludlow Marina’s fuel pier.

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