High Water Still Keeping Connecticut River Ferry at the Dock

GLASTONBURY, CT — High water on the Connecticut River is still preventing the historic ferry between Glastonbury and Rocky Hill from running, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation said Monday.

The ferry remains closed indefinitely, DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick said.

Two weeks ago, Nursick said the river was running at about 5 feet higher than normal. This week, he said it is "a lot higher than that."

Nursick reiterated that floating debris also makes navigation difficult.

The ferry normally starts transporting vehicles across the river for the season on April 1.

The high water also makes the connection between the ramp and barge too steep for most vehicles, Nursick said.

The nation's oldest continuously operating ferry service crosses the Connecticut River between Rocky Hill and Glastonbury. The ferry dates back to 1655. The ferry operates on a tug-and-tow system with a small tugboat - the Cumberland - pulling a barge - the Hollister III. The rig accommodates three cars and about 15 motorcycles.

The original ferry was a small raft pushed across the river using long poles. In 1876, the ferry was “modernized” into a steam-driven craft, DOT officials said.
The Cumberland was commissioned in 1955 and there have been three versions of the Hollister. The tug is propelled by a 6-cylinder John Deere engine installed two years ago, he said.

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The ferry will not be running on Mondays "for the foreseeable future" because staffing issues, Nursick said.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel