Historic Connecticut River ferry returns after propulsion repair

The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry returned to service Friday, July 31, after the Connecticut Department of Transportation replaced a worn component in the ferry operation’s propulsion system.

“This was a scheduled repair to replace a worn part in the ferry’s propulsion system,” CTDOT said in a statement to WorkBoat. “The repair has been completed, and the ferry reopened earlier today.”

The service had been temporarily suspended earlier in the week, with CTDOT initially indicating that the ferry would remain closed through Friday.

The crossing uses the three-car barge Hollister III, which is moved across the Connecticut River by a diesel-powered tug. The ferry connects Rocky Hill and Glastonbury along Route 160. 

Dating to 1655, the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury operation is recognized by CTDOT as the nation’s oldest continuously operating ferry service. The original crossing used a small raft pushed by long poles, and horses on treadmills later supplied propulsion before steam-powered craft were introduced in 1876. 

The ferry remains part of the region’s transportation network as well as a historic attraction. CTDOT says it can shorten some trips between southern Glastonbury and Rocky Hill by nearly eight miles. It is also the only Connecticut River crossing available to cyclists between Hartford and Middletown. 

The ferry’s 2026 season began May 1 after elevated river levels delayed its planned spring opening. Connecticut’s Rocky Hill-Glastonbury and Chester-Hadlyme ferry services carried approximately 91,000 passengers and 42,000 vehicles combined during the previous season. 

The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry generally operates weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with service subject to weather, river conditions, and mechanical issues.