The ferry had been shut down for about a month due to low river levels until resuming service about a week ago. Captain Ed Floyd is “reasonably optimistic” that ferry service can resume on Thursday after the dredge has finished work.

Floyd says the ferry halted service today to avoid interfering with a dredge that has been working to remove silt from Hickman Harbor. The dredge and the ferry would be reasonably close, and Captain Floyd says closing the ferry for the day will allow the dredge to complete work at the harbor entrance without interruption.

Low water on the Mississippi River had forced the Dorena-Hickman Ferry to exclude Semi-trucks and carry passenger vehicles only for the last week. Floyd says when service is able to resume that ban on Semi-trucks will have to continue until river levels rise a couple of feet.

The river gauge at Cairo was at 8.86 feet at 9:00 am Wednesday. River levels are projected to remain in the 9 ft. range through Thursday, with a slow drop to near 8 feet at Cairo by Sunday. Floyd says he and his crew will carefully monitor river conditions and maintain service for passenger vehicles as water levels allow. Meanwhile, the ferry will remain closed today and will attempt to provide timely notice when the dredge finishes work and allows the ferry to resume operation.

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry connects KY 1354 at Hickman, Kentucky, with Missouri Route A and Route 77 near Dorena, Missouri.