Tricky CT River Conditions Dock Ferry

GLASTONBURY, CT — Operating the Connecticut River Ferry between Glastonbury and Rocky Hill would essentially subject passengers and crew to a game a maritime pinball, and the ferry has been ordered docked until further notice, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick said it is not safe.

"The current is strong and you could find just about anything floating by in these conditions," he said. "We've seen entire trees floating on the river in April. It is not safe to operate the barge."

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

On Friday, Nursick said the river was running about 5 feet above normal for this time of year and revised that assessment to say it had become even higher by Tuesday afternoon.

That 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