With spring underway, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is excited to share that Connecticut’s two historical ferries are set to launch for the 2024 season.
The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry and the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry will open on Friday, April 26 at 7 a.m. Both services were delayed from an anticipated April 1 start due to high water levels on the Connecticut River. The services will run daily through November 30. The two historic ferries across the Connecticut River are some of the most unique modes of transportation in the country, where pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles are all welcome.
The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry is the oldest continuously operating ferry in America, which began service in 1655. At one time, two horses on treadmills supplied the power to propel the vessel across the river. In 1876, the ferry was modernized to steam driven crafts. Today’s craft is a three-car barge named the Hollister III that is towed back and forth by the Cumberland, a diesel-powered tug boat.
The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry launched in 1769, and CTDOT began operating the service in 1917. This year the Selden III, the vessel that transports the public across the river, is celebrating its 75th year of service. The Selden III was commissioned by the state of Connecticut in 1941, but because of a shortage of steel due to World War II, was not built and put into service until 1949. It can carry eight or nine cars and 49 passengers, and thanks to having a propeller and rudder on both ends of the boat, and travels back and forth without needing to turn around.
Last season, the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry and the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry combined to carry nearly 50,000 passengers and more than 123,000 vehicles.
“Although we are getting a later start than expected, we are excited to launch the two historic Connecticut River ferries this week. These historic vessels offer some of the most unique modes of transportation anywhere in the country. No matter if someone is driving, walking, or a riding a bike, the ferries offer picturesque views of the river and communities, and are a wonderful way to travel,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “I look forward to another great season on the Connecticut River with Master Captain Blaise Clemente, Master Captain John Kennedy, and the entire CTDOT ferry crew. I hope the public comes out and enjoys all these services have to offer.”
Both ferries operate on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and on weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Weather conditions, water levels, or mechanical issues may impact ferry operations, with any closures and delays shared online. Members of the public are encouraged to sign up for alerts on the real-time travel and traffic information website CTroads.com.
For additional information on the ferries, including fares, schedules, and complete history, please visit CT.gov/DOT/CTferries.
Above: The Chester-Hadylme Ferry. Below: The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry. Credit: CTDOT
