Improvements To Historic Glastonbury, Rocky Hill Ferry Landings Underway

GLASTONBURY/ROCKY HILL, CT — The facilities around the docks for the historic Glastonbury-to-Rocky Hill Ferry on the Connecticut River are about to get better.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has announced that off-season site improvements are underway at the ferry landings in both Rocky Hill and Glastonbury.

This project started on Sunday and is slated for completion by April 2026. The work entails ferry landing site improvements that include fencing, new sidewalks and better lighting designed to "achieve better pedestrian access."

The work — officially CTDOT Project No.0118-0188 — was awarded to Colossale Sitework Corporation at a cost of $533,335 on Sept. 19. The work is scheduled to be completed by April 21, 2026.

This project is administered by the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, Office of Construction, District 1 in Rocky Hill.

The Glastonbury-Rocky Hill Ferry is the nation's oldest continuously operating ferry service. The original ferry dates back to 1655. Back then, the ferry was privately operated under a state services agreement and was pushed across the river using long poles.

It was then powered by a horse on a treadmill in the center of the craft.

In 1876, state officials tell us, the ferry system was "modernized" with a steam-driven craft. The system evolved into today's barge and tug operation.

Each crossing takes about 4 minutes with the "Cumberland," a small tug and the "Hollister III" barge equipped to carry vehicles. The ferry is actually the continuation of state Route 160 between the two towns. The captains make 70 to 80 trips a day at the height of the season.