MoDOT seeks bids for Glasgow ferry service

Following a required two-week advertising period, MoDOT will open bids for the service on April 4 at 10 a.m.

"Receiving bids is the next step in determining whether the private sector has an interest in providing a ferry service and what the actual cost of the service would be. Once we know what the ferry service will cost, we will be in a position to determine how much funding will be needed and whether the service is affordable," said MoDOT District Engineer Dan Niec.

MoDOT had previously worked with Glasgow Alternate Transportation Committee, made up of representatives of the community, to determine the details of the proposed service.

The RFB requires the ferry to operate 12 hours per day, seven days per week. The service will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and will be capable of transporting at least 12 passenger cars per trip. A fare of $6 will be charged for each passenger vehicle and $24 for oversize vehicles.

The over $14 million project was awarded in January. The current timeline as the project moves forward is:

Begin bridge closure window -- June 1, 2008.

Maximum bridge closure days -- 365 calendar days.

End bridge closure window -- Sept. 1, 2009.

Project completion date -- Dec. 31, 2009.

For more information, contact MoDOT District 2 Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (275-6636). The center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or visit the website at http://www.modot.org/northcentral.