Continued Accessibility Improvements in Stehekin: Contract Awarded for Ferry Landing

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News Release Date: September 30, 2010
Contact: Charles Beall, 360-854-7302

A nearly $1 million contract has been awarded by the National Park Service through a full and open competitive bidding process to Wesslen Construction, Inc. to provide universal access at the Stehekin Landing for all passengers traveling via the commercial ferry system. It is part of over $2 million dollars in work that has been completed or is planned to improve the accessibility of facilities and services in Stehekin and is the most notable improvement to the Stehekin Ferry Landing in almost forty years.

“We want people to visit Stehekin, and this will make it easier for them to do so” said North Cascades National Park Complex Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “This ferry landing improvement project is part of our overall effort to upgrade facilities in Stehekin to improve their accessibility for visitors. We have also invested in new accessible shuttle buses, have remodeled the restrooms at the Stehekin Landing Resort to make them accessible, and are upgrading the popular Rainbow Mist Trail to provide universal access to spectacular Rainbow Falls.”

Wesslen Construction, Inc. was selected out of seven competing proposals. This Spokane-based company has been doing private and public (primarily marine, bridge, and road) construction projects in the Pacific Northwest for over 27 years and specializes in remote access projects that often require creative engineering solutions for completion. “Wesslen Construction has successfully completed a number of prior projects for North Cascades National Park,” said Superintendent Jenkins. “These include the construction of a National Park Service residence in Stehekin and the design, fabrication, and delivery of the new Agnes Creek Bridge.”

Wesslen Construction, Inc. will install a fixed walkway along the western bulkhead of the existing Stehekin Winter Ferry Landing. Construction is expected to take place February through June, and the new structure should be complete and ready for use as the lake level begins to lower in the fall of 2011. The anticipated construction schedule is, however, dependent on the timing of low water in Lake Chelan, as determined by the Chelan Public Utility District.

Wesslen Construction, Inc. will be working closely with the Lake Chelan Boat Company to ensure public ferry access is maintained throughout the construction period with minimal impact to visitors and residents.

The Finding of No Significant Impact for the Stehekin Winter Ferry Landing Improvement Project can be accessed from www.nps.gov/noca/parkmgmt/ferry.htm

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