Kingston ferry services set for major upgrade
The Government on Ontario has pledged to spend more than $145 million to rebuild the Marysville ferry dock on Wolfe Island and the Kingston dock.
Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, and Daryl Kramp, MPP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington made the announcement on August 28. Of the funding, $63.3 million will be spent on the Marysville ferry project at Wolfe Island. The remaining $82.5 million will be spent on the Kingston dock.
The projects are part of the province’s plan to keep Ontario’s transportation safe and reliable, while supporting economic growth and the creation of local jobs.
“Ferry service is vital to the economies of island communities and their residents and businesses who rely on ferries daily,” said Clark. “By investing in ferry infrastructure, we are supporting growth and job creation for the entire region.”
Both projects include building larger docks with a larger loading area to improve efficiency for boarding passengers and goods. The new docks will improve safety by providing separation for pedestrians and cyclists from vehicles. They will also feature the addition of new passenger waiting areas.
Ferries transport about 900,000 passengers and 400,000 vehicles between Wolfe Island and Kingston each year.
Construction on the Marysville dock is expected to start by early September and construction on the Kingston dock is expected to start in the fall. An earlier project that will lower parts of the St. Lawrence channel to accommodate for the future arrival of the new, larger Wolfe Island ferry began in July.
“These projects will provide a better experience for ferry travellers who will have more space and a more efficient process while boarding and exiting the ferry,” said Kramp. “These improvements will make a huge difference, especially for those who rely on this service in their daily lives.”
“Investing in projects that improve the reliability and safety of transportation is an important part of our plan to improve our transportation network in eastern Ontario,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “These investments will help prepare for the new, larger Wolfe Island ferry which will provide increased service for passengers and better access to goods on the island.”
The plan to rebuild both ferry terminals was approved in 2018, and the contracts for the dock reconstruction will be announced later this year.