Alcatraz Island closed through Friday for dock repairs; tours, cruises refunded

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Alcatraz Island, one of San Francisco's best-known tourist destinations, is closed this week while crews repair the island's dock, according to the National Park Service.

The closure began Monday and is scheduled to last through Friday, temporarily cutting off public access to the former prison site in the middle of San Francisco Bay.

In an alert posted Friday, the Park Service said access to the island is temporarily closed for dock repair. All scheduled tours during the closure period have been refunded, officials said.

MORE: Alcatraz tours resume Friday with funding donation, despite government shutdown

Alcatraz City Cruises, the island's official ferry operator, has suspended its trips to the island for the week and is directing visitors to alternative bay cruise options instead.

The National Park Service has not released further details about the repair work, but said Alcatraz is expected to reopen once the dock project is complete.