Due to traveler input and requests from the cities of Savanna, Ill. and Sabula, Iowa, the hours of operation for the vehicle and passenger ferry will change on Saturdays to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The change will take effect beginning this Saturday, June 23. Ferry hours of operation will remain 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. all other days of the week. Trips on the complimentary ferry between the cities take between 15 and 25 minutes each direction depending on weather and river conditions.

Bob Younie, Iowa DOT state maintenance engineer noted “We’ve been working to determine how to improve the user experience over the past week. We appreciate the public’s patience while the details and coordination of this service are being refined.”

A complimentary bus service is also available seven days a week to increase the hours and type of mobility options that are available to those crossing the Mississippi River between the two communities. For details on transit stop locations and times vist https://iowadot.gov/sabulabridge/docs/SabulaTransit.pdf. Younie suggests that the transit service provides a regular routed option that is convenient for commuters as well as providing a back-up to those who are not able to get on the ferry right away due to high demand.    

Construction of the Sabula bridge at U.S. 52 over the overflow waters of the Mississipi River is on schedule after unforseen circumstances caused delays this spring. The Iowa DOT anticipates the new bridge will open by Labor Day, 2018. However, construction schedules are always tentative subject to weather and other conditions. Project information, service interuptions, and construction and mobility updates are available at https://iowadot.gov/sabulabridge/.