Traffic & Transit
Glastonbury-Rocky Hill Ferry 2024 Opening Still Delayed
The historic Connecticut River ferry between Glastonbury and Rocky Hill again started a week plagued by high waters.
GLASTONBURY, CT — For the second week in a row, the opening of the historic Glastonbury-to-Rocky Hill ferry is being delayed.
High waters make it dangerous to operate between bad landing angles and debris floating in the Connecticut River.
Ferry season in Connecticut typically runs from April 1 through Nov. 30.
Find out what's happening in Glastonburyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Connecticut Department of Transportation officials said the water levels will determine when the runs will start.
Each crossing takes about 4 minutes with the "Cumberland," a small tug and the "Hollister III" barge equipped to carry vehicles. The ferry is actually the continuation of state Route 160 between the two towns.
Find out what's happening in Glastonburyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The captains make 70 to 80 trips a day at the height of the season.
The Glastonbury-Rocky Hill Ferry is the nation's oldest continuously operating ferry service. The original ferry dates back to 1655. Back then, it was privately operated under a state services agreement and pushed across the river using long poles. It was then powered by a horse on a treadmill in the center of the craft.
In 1876, state officials tell us, the ferry system was "modernized" with a steam-driven craft.
The system evolved into today's barge and tug.
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