Two CT ferries expected to open this weekend after delays

State officials anticipate two ferries that had delayed openings due to high water levels will begin operating for the season this weekend.

The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury and Chester-Hadlyme ferries usually begin running on April 1 but their openings were delayed this year because of high water on the Connecticut River, according to Josh Morgan, spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation. In the first three months of 2024, data from the National Weather Service shows that all counties within the state received between 17.33 to 20.49 inches of precipitation.

“Connecticut received a lot of rain this year, and there was significant snow melt from the north, which is why we’re starting later than usual this season,” Morgan said Tuesday. The landings have been submerged, which made it impossible for cars and pedestrians to board safely, he said.

Once the DOT receives confirmation about the openings from the ferry captains, officials will issue an announcement, Morgan said. Motorists and other passengers can check CTroads.org for updates, he said.

The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry, the nation’s oldest continuously operating ferry service, provides a direct link between Rocky Hill and Glastonbury near Route 160 on the Glastonbury side. Once open, service runs Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and weekends from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The season runs through Nov. 30 and the only holiday the ferry closes for is Thanksgiving.

The original ferry, which dates back to 1655, was a small raft pushed across the river using long poles. Under state charter, the ferry service was operated by local families throughout most of its existence.

The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, the second-oldest continuously operating ferry service in Connecticut and a designated state historical landmark, crosses the Connecticut River between Chester and Hadlyme with the same schedule as the Rocky HillGlastonbury ferry. The route was started by Jonathan Warner in 1769 and was known as Warner’s Ferry through 1877, when the towns of Chester and Lyme took it over. It became known as ChesterHadlyme Ferry in 1882.

Photo courtesy CT Department of Transportation The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury and Chester-Hadlyme ferries are expected to reopen this weekend after their seasonal openings were delayed due to high water levels, state officials said.