Alcatraz Island to Close In Late October While Ferry Dock Undergoes Repairs

Alcatraz will be closed to visitors for three weeks this fall while crews complete the third and final phase of repairs to the island’s ferry dock.

The National Park Service announced Monday that Alcatraz’s ferry dock will be taken out of service starting October 26, closing the island to visitors while crews replace two support pilings beneath the dock. The work is expected to continue through November 18, although weather and other factors could change the schedule.

The island has already closed twice this year for work on the dock. A nine-day closure in January followed the failure of one of the pilings, prompting Alcatraz City Cruises to inspect all five. Two needed repairs, while the other three were found to be structurally sound enough to keep ferry service running.

Ferry capacity was reduced during that time, but the operator continued serving regular ticket sales by using additional boats.

Alcatraz closed again for six days in April, when crews strengthened the three usable pilings and worked out a plan to replace the remaining two. The additional work allowed ferry service to return to full capacity ahead of the busy summer season.

The upcoming project is the final phase of the repairs and will involve driving in new pilings and completely replacing the two that still need work. The timing is also tied to Bay Conservation and Development Commission restrictions on in-water work in San Francisco Bay after November 30.

Alcatraz City Cruises, the National Park Service concessioner that operates the ferry service, is paying for the repairs. The National Park Service said no tax dollars or federal funding will be used for the work.

The agency says the ferry operator makes more than 3,200 trips to Alcatraz each year, carrying about 1.5 million visitors.

Once the work is finished, the dock is expected to last 20 to 30 years.

Visitors with reservations during the closure will be notified and offered refunds, according to the NPS. They can also reschedule their Alcatraz tour or book a San Francisco Bay Discovery Cruise instead — on selected dates.

The island is otherwise scheduled to remain open year-round, aside from regular holiday closures and occasional weather-related shutdowns.

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