PADUCAH, Ky. — Due to low water on the Mississippi River, the Dorena-Hickman Ferry will temporarily be unable to transport large trucks, including semis and commercial box trucks. The ferry will remain in service to haul passenger vehicles and smaller trucks. The ferry connects Kentucky Highway 1354 at Hickman, Kentucky, with Missouri Route A and Route 77 near Dorena, Missouri, operating at Mississippi River navigation mile point 922.0.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC), the Cairo Gauge was at 13.93 at noon Sept. 30, and is expected to stay at or below that level through mid-October unless there is substantial rainfall.
The ramp at the Kentucky landing is being reconstructed; however, the ramp has not yet been extended to a point where it can be used when the river level is extremely low. KTC personnel have hauled millings to fill in at the bottom of the ramp to allow the ferry to keep operating, but the millings are not capable of supporting the weight of large trucks. The ferry is able to continue hauling passenger vehicles and pickup trucks without disruption.
Motorists can check the ferry’s operating status by calling 731-693-0210 or by visiting the Dorena-Hickman Ferry Facebook page, according to KTC.
The ferry is operated by the Mississippi County Port Authority with funding support from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Missouri Department of Transportation.
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