Contract complete for Glasgow ferry/Date set for Missouri River year-long bridge closure

Two boys play along the banks of the Missouri River near the spot where Calhoun Ferry Service is expected to set up shop to help area residents across the river while the Glasgow bridge is closed for a year-long major improvement project. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Area residents who use the Missouri River bridge at Glasgow will have a way to cross the river during the year or more the bridge will be closed for major improvements, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

MoDOT announced Tuesday, May 20, that a contract has been executed with Calhoun Ferry Company to operate a ferry service at Glasgow during the upcoming bridge closure.

State Sen. Bill Stouffer held a news conference Friday, April 4, at the landing near the bridge to announce that state funding had been found to pay most of the costs of the ferry service.

Bids were opened the same day and Calhoun was chosen as the best offer.

The company was awarded the $1.7 million contract last month and will now be granted a notice to proceed by the Commission, MoDOT officials said.

Calhoun's ferry is 34 feet wide by 90 feet long, can transport up to 80 tons at a time and can handle 15 typical passenger cars per trip, according to MoDOT.

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, according to MoDOT.

Although state money is being used to cover most costs, motorists will have to pay for each trip they take.

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, Aug. 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 p.m.

On the Net:

http://www.modot.org/northcentral

Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net