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UPDATE: Blennerhassett Island Opening Friday

Posted: $util.date("h:mm a MMM d, yyyy",$story.contentLiveDate,$timeZone)
Reporter: Shannon Houser, Allison Rhea

Boat Maintenance Delaying Blennerhassett Island Opening

UPDATE: 5/3/12 7:00PM

Earlier this week, we told you Blennerhassett Island would have to delay it's opening to next week because of work on it's sternwheeler ferry.

Now, DNR officials tell us the island will open Friday, May 4.

The new waterfront design at Point Park required modifications be made to the sternwheeler so it could dock at the new area.

The U.S. Coast Guard has approved the modifications and now the ferry is good to go for the season.

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They were late to open last year, and now Blennerhassett Island State Park won't be opening on time this year either.

Boat maintenance took a little bit longer than expected. Because of this, the island will not open on the scheduled date which is Saturday May 5th.

They're now currently in the process of rescheduling some of their biggest customers, around 14 school groups.

"It's been a little difficult, but it's just the nature of the work. We didn't know how long it was going to take, and it just went a little longer than expected," Assistant Superintendent, Miles Evenson says.

The boat improvements will allow for the sternwheeler to dock on any side, making it easier to get to and from the island.

The tentative date for the island to re-open is May 9th.