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Major makeover coming to state's flagship ferry terminal

A major makeover is coming to the state's flagship ferry terminal.

“I kind of shocked me over the years how dilapidated things had gotten,” said passenger Anna Smith.

Because of construction at Colman Dock, starting Sunday, Jan. 7, riders now have new sailing times on the Seattle to Bremerton, and Seattle to Bainbridge routes. During peak times, some sailings will shift by 5 to 15 minutes. Bremerton boats will leave earlier while Bainbridge boats will leave a few minutes later during the week and on weekends.

It's the traditional start to the winter schedule, but these new times will be in place for the next five years as renovation work begins on the terminal.

The new schedule staggers trips so only one ferry and one set of passengers would arrive and depart at a time.

In March, half of the terminal will be demolished.

The terminal will stay open during the renovation, but it will be much smaller and can't hold as many people.

It's part of a $350 million, five-year renovation project that started last summer to modernize and make Colman Dock more earthquake-safe.

“It's about time this place got a facelift,” said Smith.

Smith lives in Port Townsend. She believes the inconvenience will pay off.

“In the short term, I think a little headache is worth it for the long term because it’s going to be so much better,” Smith added.

While some vendors have already shut down, most of the others have to move out by the end of February.

“I'm super sad,” said Sue Gregor.

Gregor has been serving up coffee and conversation at Caffe Appassionato in the terminal every Sunday for the last 16 years.

“I'm going to miss just talking to the customers,” Gregor explained.

Work has already started on the new terminal, which will partially open in 2019.

The new schedule will last until at least 2023.

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