Travelers advised to consider alternate route amid Cave-in-Rock ferry service negotiations
CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ky. (KBSI) – There could be a disruption to the Cave-in-Rock ferry service beginning July 1.
If a new agreement cannot be reached between the ferry operator and Ohio River Ferry Authority before June 30, travelers are advised to consider an alternate route between Cave-in-Rock, Ill. and Marion, Ky. if service is interrupted.
For many years, Team Kentucky and the Illinois Department of Transportation maintained a transportation link between Kentucky and Illinois via the Cave-in-Rock Ferry.
The current state-funded, two-year agreement between the privately owned ferry operator and the Ohio River Ferry Authority will expire on June 30.
The Ferry Authority was created by the Crittenden County Fiscal Court. It oversees the management and operation of the private ferry service equally funded by Kentucky and Illinois.
KYTC officials have been in discussions with IDOT and the Ferry Authority since February about the agreement renewal.
The Ferry Authority shared a draft agreement with the ferry operator in early April. That was after the completion of Kentucky’s legislative session and authorization of the state budget for the next two years.
This week, the ferry operator notified the Ferry Authority and KYTC that they are rejecting the proposed contract. They cited issues with the proposed funding and the terms of the contract.
KYTC, in coordination with IDOT, offered to increase annual reimbursement for the ferry by 13 percent, which, according to the two entities, is in line with funding increases for other ferries in the two states.
The states reimburse the Ferry Authority, which has an agreement to reimburse the private ferry operator.
The operator has demanded a nearly 30 percent increase in funding, according to KYTC.
The agreement provided to the ferry operator included updated reimbursement guidelines and required language from the Kentucky Finance Cabinet to ensure it is in line with the state’s procurement regulations.
According to KYTC, the provisions are necessary to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure all expenditures made by the private operator are reasonable and appropriate.
Reimbursements to the Cave-in-Rock Ferry have more than doubled since 2018, according to KYTC. They’ve gone from $804,000 six years ago to $1,662,000 annually in 2024. During that same period, Kentucky’s five other state-funded ferry operations have increased but at a smaller rate.
KYTC officials say they will continue to work with the Ferry Authority to develop an agreement to continue ferry service at Cave-in-Rock.
The states will also explore alternative options to provide a cross-river connection should the operator decide to discontinue ferry service at this location.
The Cave-in-Rock Ferry carries about 300 vehicles per day at no cost to travelers.
The shortest alternative drive between Marion, Ky. and Cave-in-Rock, Ill., would use the KY 56 Shawneetown Bridge. It takes about 35 minutes longer than a trip on the ferry.
