TDOT Unveils New Ferry Service Across Tennessee River
Nashville, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Transportation officials joined state and local leaders on the banks of the Tennessee River this morning to announce the launch of ferry service between Benton and Houston Counties. Beginning today, the ferry service will operate 365 days a year.
“It is so important to provide our citizens with different transportation options,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “This service will not only save passengers time and money, it will also offer greater economic opportunities for the entire region.”
At 9:30 a.m., TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges, Senator Roy Herron, Representative Butch Borchert and Representative John Tidwell, and officials from Benton and Houston Counties christened the ferry by breaking bottles of sparkling cider on the vessel, officially launching the ferry service.
“This is an exciting day for Benton and Houston Counties and we are so pleased to be able to offer this service to our citizens,” said Senator Roy Herron.
“This ferry will make travel between these two counties so much more convenient,” added Representative Butch Borchert. “It will also provide easier access for visitors exploring the beautiful features of this area.”
The ferry is located in Houston County, just off State Route 147, near McKinnon, Tennessee. It will operate on a daily crossing schedule, taking approximately seven minutes to ferry between the landings in Benton and Houston Counties. Passengers will not be required to wait more than a half hour for service across the river.
Representative John Tidwell said, “This service has the ability to shave a significant amount of time off the commute for people who work on the opposite side of the river from where they live.”
“I applaud TDOT for recognizing the need for this ferry and for making an investment that will improve transportation in this region,” added Senator Rosalind Kurita who represents Houston County in the State Senate.
The ferry will hold 22 passengers, plus the crew members. The barge is capable of transporting six full size light vehicle trucks and two compact cars, or eight medium size cars, or one empty tractor trailer. The hours of operation are:
Monday – Friday 5:30 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Fees vary according to size and type of vehicle, as set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated 54-13-317. For residents of Henry, Benton, Stewart and Houston Counties, the fee will be set at $.75 per day.
The barge is owned by the State of Tennessee, and will be operated by River Marine Service, Inc. The ferry’s captain and crew are certified and licensed by the United States Coast Guard and meet all other federal and state requirements associated with ferry boat operations.
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