The Cave-in-Rock Ferry has halted operations due to high winds.
District 1 spokesman Keith Todd with the state transportation cabinet says the ferry halted service at 1:00 after reporting winds out of the west-southwest at 21 miles per hour with gusts up to 28 miles per hour. He notes when the wind is out of the west or southwest it can create choppy conditions in the Ohio River.
The Cave-in-Rock Ferry connects KY 91 with Illinois Route 1 across the Ohio River between Crittenden County and Harden County, Illinois.
The ferry normally starts service at 6:00 a.m., 7 days a week. The last run from the Illinois landing is at 9:40 p.m. with the last run from the Kentucky landing at 9: 50 p.m.
The Cave-in-Rock Ferry carries about 500 vehicles across the Ohio River in an average day for commuters who depend on it to get to and from jobs. It also serves as a tourist attraction and a tourism link between the Shawnee National Forest and the nearby Amish Community in Crittenden County. When the ferry is closed, Todd says it turns a normal 10-mile trip between Cave-in-Rock, Illinois and Marion, into a 70-minute detour.
