Knik Arm ferry

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The proposed Knik Arm ferry or Cook Inlet ferry would be a year-round passenger and auto ferry across Knik Arm between Anchorage and Point MacKenzie in Alaska. The project is expected to cost $44 million, a fraction of the cost of the more controversial proposed Knik Arm Bridge that would connect the same two communities. A special ice-breaking ferry boat has been designed to serve the route, with capacity for 20 to 28 automobiles and 115 to 150 passengers. It is being built by Alaska Ship and Drydock, Inc., in Ketchikan, with construction slated to be completed in late 2007. Design and construction costs are being subsidized by the United States Navy which hopes to study the technology for its potential in landing craft.

Ferry service could begin as soon as the summer of 2008. Transit time across Knik Arm is expected to be about 12 minutes in each direction, with a similar amount of time required for loading and unloading. The subsidized round-trip fare is expected to be in the range of $5 to $8.