LifeSoutheast · September 13, 2026
seven hours around a broken dock
Skagway's ferry dock reopens today, after a closure that sent relay racers on a seven-hour drive around from Haines.
Daily Alaska staff · September 13, 2026 · Southeast
The Skagway ferry terminal, operated by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, reopened after a weeks-long closure that disrupted seasonal workers and teams racing in the Klondike Road Relay, a 100-plus-mile overnight race run between Skagway and Haines. The terminal shut down last month after facility staff identified structural damage, including spidering cracks in the concrete abutment supporting the vehicle transfer bridge and damage to the chains holding the float in position.
Further inspection found all 19 chains holding the float needed repair. Those repairs are now complete, the vehicle transfer bridge has been reset, and power restoration was underway as of this week.
The closure hit two groups hardest: seasonal workers trying to leave Skagway at the end of the season, and teams competing in the Klondike Road Relay. Some racers drove roughly seven hours around from Haines to reach the start, while others paid for private boats to get across. Race coordinator Ryan Sikkes said the relay is as much a feat of logistics for teams as it is athleticism.
Alaska DOT spokesperson Gabe Strong explained the department's cautious approach to declaring the terminal fixed. He said something could still go wrong, and he would feel bad telling people to cancel their backup plans only to have the repair fail.
In this story
Questions people ask
Why did the Skagway ferry terminal close?
Staff found structural damage to the dock, including cracks in the concrete abutment and damage to all 19 chains holding the float.
When did the Skagway ferry terminal reopen?
Around September 10, 2026, after weeks of repairs.
Who had to work around the closure?
Klondike Road Relay teams and seasonal workers had to drive about seven hours around from Haines or pay for private boats to leave.
Who fixed the ferry dock?
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversaw the repairs, including fixing all 19 float chains.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- The Skagway ferry terminal shut down last month after staff identified structural damage. · alaskapublic.org
- All 19 chains holding the float required repair and have been fixed. · alaskapublic.org
- The terminal was set to reopen September 10. · alaskapublic.org
- Klondike Road Relay teams drove roughly seven hours around from Haines or paid for private boats during the closure. · alaskapublic.org
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →