Popular Pierce County public boat launch closed for summer. Here’s why
Commenters on Steilacoom Facebook pages were wondering why the popular public boat launch at the Steilacoom Ferry Dock is closed. The News Tribune confirmed with town officials this week that the Steilacoom Boat Launch will be closed throughout the summer and “until well into the fall” due to repairs on a sewer lid station, which shares the same parking lot.
The temporary closure of the boat launch is unrelated to a recent boating accident where a 21-year-old Bellevue man nearly hit two ferries near the dock before running aground. A video of the dramatic incident went viral, and the man was arrested on suspicion of a DUI. He did not suffer serious injuries, as previously reported by The News Tribune.
Town administrator, clerk and treasurer Paul Loveless told The News Tribune on Tuesday that the boat launch closed the week of April 23 and will not reopen “until well into the fall.”
“The boat launch is closed due to the Town replacing a 65 year+ sewer lift station which shares the same parking lot and access points as the launch. As with most construction projects, spring and summer are the prime construction period,” Loveless said in an email. “The contractor has been delayed due to supply chain issues with some of the highly specialized equipment. They mobilized and started, so the access way to the boat launch is not accessible.”
The sewer lift station replacement will cost about $2.8 million, not including engineering, Loveless said Thursday.
“The funding comes from the Town’s sewer utility fund, [which are] funds we have set aside for capital improvements to the system,” he said.
