MACON – A contract has been executed with Calhoun Ferry Company to operate a ferry service at Glasgow during the upcoming bridge closure. The company was awarded the $1.7 million contract last month and will now be granted a notice to proceed by the Commission.

Calhoun’s ferry is 34’ wide by 90’ long,  can transport up to 80 tons at a time and can handle 15 typical passenger cars per trip. Additionally, emergency vehicles, combines, road tractors, school buses and other larger vehicles can be transported. The ferry will operate seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. The ferry will operate continuously during these hours when demand exists on either side of the river.

The cost of the ferry service is $8 per one-way trip for passenger vehicles if tickets are purchased at the ferry. Oversize vehicles will require four tickets per trip ($32 if purchased at the ferry). Tickets will also be available for purchase from the City of Glasgow at a reduced cost of $6 per ticket.

The contractor performing the partial replacement of the bridge, Jensen Construction, Inc., plans to close the bridge to traffic beginning Monday, August 4.  The ferry service will be in operation when the bridge closes.

Timeline as the project moves forward is       

Bridge Closed to Traffic	Aug. 4, 2008
Maximum Bridge Closure Days	365 calendar days
Bridge Opened to Traffic	Aug. 4, 2009
Project Completion Date	Dec. 31, 2009

For more information contact the MoDOT District 2 Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (275-6636). The center is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.