JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The St. Johns River Ferry reopened Wednesday morning after it was shut down in January for a complete overhaul.
The ferry will once again let drivers go directly across the river instead of using the Dames Point Bridge, which can be more than a 20-mile detour.
The St. Johns River Ferry recently had to undergo an inspection and overhaul as required periodically by The U.S. Coast Guard. The ferry passed final inspections and had test runs on Tuesday.
It cost the city $1.8 million to replace both engines, have the ferry repainted and pass the required inspections.
John Crescimbeni is chairman of the River City Ferry Commission. He said the ferry has gone from holding five lanes of vehicles to four, and that’s not a downgrade, it is a good thing to give people more space.
Crescimbeni also said the Jacksonville Transportation Authority will be taking over operations of the Ferry in April.