The Cave-in-Rock Ferry plans to close at 6 p.m., today, due to floodwaters crossing KY 91 near the Kentucky Landing.
The closure comes about a day earlier than expected.
The Cave-in-Rock Ferry normally has to close when Ohio River floodwaters go above 42 ft. on the Shawneetown gauge. However, ferry operator Lonnie Lewis says water is backing up from below forcing the ferry to close earlier than what the normal river forecast would indicate.
With water backing up, it also makes it difficult to predict when the ferry might be able to reopen.
The ferry will operate until 6 p.m., CST, today, then close until floodwaters drop off of the Kentucky landing.
The Cave-In-Rock Ferry will attempt to provide timely notice when floodwaters drop enough to allow service to resume.
The Cave-In-Rock Ferry connects KY 91 with ILLINOIS Route 1 across the Ohio River between Crittenden County, KY, and Hardin County, IL.
The ferry normally operates from 6:00 a.m. to 9:50 p.m. central time, 7 days a week. The ferry carries about 500 vehicles across the Ohio River in an average day.
The Cave-In-Rock Ferry is at Ohio River navigation mile point 881.0.
The Cave-In-Rock Ferry is operated by an independent contractor with joint funding from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Illinois Department of Transportation through a ferry authority.