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Cave-In-Rock Ferry To Continue Operating This Summer As Officials Work On Funding Options

Matt Markgraf
/
WKMS
The Ohio River, seen from Paducah, Ky.

The Kentucky and Illinois Departments of Transportation have offered additional funds to the Ohio River Authority to maintain Cave-In-Rock Ferry operations for the next three months.

The ferry links Hardin County, Illinois, and Crittenden County, Kentucky.

The Transportation Cabinet said in a release on Monday this allows a more reasonable timeframe to appropriately review the expenses needed to maintain the ferry operations.

KYTC said the ferry operator’s self-imposed July 1 deadline does not allow adequate time for necessary funding justifications to be made to the Ohio River Authority and others.

According to a post on District 1’s Facebook page, the Kentucky Legislature approved funding for the operation of the ferry earlier this year as part of the new budget. However, the budget was set before some of the additional expenses facing the ferry became evident.

Illinois state Rep. Natalie Phelps Finnie says about $1 million is needed for the ferry to meet current safety regulations.

Officials say the ferry carries an average of 500 vehicles a day.