This is a case of good news/bad news. The good news is that we are getting the repairs to the Chappy slip done before things fall apart. The bad news is that the next phase of the repair work will cause quite an inconvenience to ferry travelers. In order to proceed with the repair of the slip, the loading ramp on the Chappy side must be removed so that work can be done in the area beneath it. With the ramp removed vehicles cannot get on and off the ferry. The ferry will continue to carry passengers. The ramp will be removed first thing in the morning on Sunday, April 17 and will be back in place by Sunday, April 24 at 6 p.m.

We will use the Edgartown slip in town and the so-called spare slip on the Chappy side to load and deliver passengers. The new configuration of the spare slip bulkhead will allow the use of a passenger ramp to get off and on the ferry there.

Parking areas in town where you can leave your car without getting a ticket will be designated by the police department. As usual if you have an emergency that requires an ambulance, the hospital emergency room, the police or the fire department, call 911. They will contact everyone needed, including the ferry captain. If you have an older cell phone you may get more quickly connected to the Dukes County communications center by dialing 508-693-1212.

During this period, as at other times when vehicle ferry service is curtailed, the fire department will house an ambulance at the Chappy firehouse and a fire department pickup at the ferry point. If you have a medical emergency the EMTs from town will come over on the ferry on foot, hop in the pickup at the point, race up to the firehouse, grab the ambulance, and high-tail it over to your house. You will then ride in that ambulance down to the ferry point, where you will be transferred to the in-town ambulance which will be waiting aboard the ferry in the spare slip. That ambulance will then get off the ferry back on the Edgartown side and whisk you up to the hospital.

So if you were looking for a good reason to take a trip off-island for the school vacation week this may be enough to sway you. Those of you who live off-island and were planning to come to Chappy during school vacation could still make it happen. Just get over here by Saturday night on the 17th of April and get a reservation to go home a week later, Sunday on the 8:30 or 9:30 p.m. big ferry. What better excuse to stay the entire week?

As of this past Monday the barrier beach connector between Chappaquiddick and Martha’s Vineyard is open to over-sand-vehicle travel. According to Trustees of Reservations superintendent Chris Kennedy there is an occasional washover at high tide but the beach at Wasque Point, which has been the weak link, is now wide and stable. He reminds us it is especially important during the winter months to reduce your tire pressure down to 12 to 15 psi, to stay in the tracks, and if in doubt turn around. Never drive through flowing water. If you get stuck out there and you don’t have cell phone reception it could be a long wait or a long walk for help. You can stay up to date on the status of Norton Point by calling 508-627-8390 or by checking the TTOR Facebook page, which is entitled The Trustees-Martha’s Vineyard.

I’m hoping that the beach continues to strengthen and remain drivable. It will come in mighty handy while the ramp is out. OSV permits will not be required to drive Norton Point during that week but vehicles must comply with the rules. If the work is completed sooner than expected we will let you know. Check our website, Facebook page, ferry hotline at 508-627-6965, or office phone message at 508-627-9427. You can sign up to get automatic text notifications by texting the word “chappy” to 99000. We are working on U.S. mail, UPS and FedEx delivery. Eversource, Verizon and Comcast will all have backup plans.

Send Chappy news to peter@chappyferry.net.