Ferry Service Remains Suspended in North Williamsburg

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN — What initially sounded like a quick and simple construction project to relocate the north Williamsburg East River Ferry dock 50 feet south from its original location turned into an extended closure that is frustrating coastal Williamsburg residents who rely on the service.

Crews began work on the dock and service was suspended on 8/22, with tentative plans to reopen two-to-three days later. As of this afternoon service remains "closed until further notice."

To compensate for the hassle, a free shuttle bus is running "approximately every 20 minutes, not on any given schedule, and will make a loop between North and South Williamsburg," according to an advisory posted on the ferry website.

The dubious nature of an unscheduled shuttle bus prompted frustration from riders who voiced their grievances on the East River Ferry Facebook page, leading the ferry service to release a statement with further hopes that the north Williamsburg stop will reopen "over the weekend":

Waterfront construction is both complicated and sometimes unpredictable. More importantly, when unknowns occur like the difficulty with the hinge connection fabricators, machinists, engineers and inspectors get in the mix, it lengthen the process. We were told the work would be 2 days, which is what we related to our customers. Unfortunately the work has taken longer than originally anticipated. We are optimistic that the pier will be reopen over the weekend, but we will confirm when we know more.

Image courtesy of Chris Oakley/Flickr Creative Commons