Work on the ramp at the Green River Ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park is taking longer than anticipated/NPS

A project to rebuild the Green River Ferry ramp at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is taking longer to accomplish than anticipated, which means the service won't return until spring. The work had been expected to be finished this Friday.  

“The park is disappointed that we are unable to open the ferry crossing as intended this fall,” said Mammoth Cave Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “We have communicated extensively with the Federal Highways Administration, and feel that extending the contractor’s schedule through the winter is the best overall option for the local community, businesses, our visitors and the park overall.

"Allowing the work to extend through the winter will mean more work for the contractor, but will be less of an impact on local commuters and tourists than if they were to stop all construction work now and restart again during our busy spring or summer season," he added. 

The project’s contractor, Kovilic Construction Company, has experienced several delays and submitted a work schedule extension request to the Federal Highway Administration Eastern Lands Highway Division, which is overseeing the construction project.

Winter weather in Kentucky generally brings more rain and higher water levels in the Green River, so the contractor is also resubmitting design information on constructing a higher coffer dam, larger than what was originally planned, around the south side ramp in order to complete the required ramp work.

The Green River Ferry serves as a river crossing location, river access for canoes and kayaks, boat ramp for fishing boats, and parking area for trail and river users. During periods of low and high water, extended closures of the Green River Ferry create negative impacts which affect local citizens, visitors, and park staff by presenting safety problems, limiting access to recreational resources, and disrupting frequently used travel routes.

The ramp extension project will extend the current vehicle access ramps into the Green River by 30 feet, which should allow the ferry boat to operate during periods of low water levels.  

The Green River Ferry Road will remain closed from the north side of the Green River, beginning just south of Maple Springs Campground, to the south side of the river at the entrance of the Green River Ferry parking lot.

The ferry area will remain open for hikers wishing to walk the Echo Springs Accessible Trail, and for river paddlers needing water access throughout the winter construction period. A temporary canoe and kayak ramp has been installed at the northeast side of the Green River Ferry parking lot for this purpose.