FERRY SERVICE HALTED, BUT HIGHWAY SHOULD OPEN SOON

CHESTER, Ill. - It was a case at good news, bad news for residents in the Perryville-Chester, Ill. area Friday.

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Department said the McBride-to-Chester ferry shuttle was halted Friday because the water level over Highway 51 dropped too low to continue to safely operate the service.

The good news is the highway department expects to reopen Route 51 to limited traffic on Monday, according to highway department spokesman Mike Perry.

"Due to fast falling water levels and changing conditions, we had to stop the ferry shuttle service late Friday," said Perry. "At this time, the water is still not low enough for vehicles to travel over Route 51. As the water continues to fall this weekend, every effort will be made to get high clearance vehicles and big trucks through at a time it is safe and practical, and all vehicles, (cars and small pickup trucks) as soon as possible after that.

"If the river continues to fall, this limited (truck and high clearance) traffic over Route 51 could begin as soon as Monday morning. Announcements will be made each day about the reopening of the highway."

The ferry service was instituted by the highway department in September to provide a means for employees to get from one side of the Mississippi River to another. The highway was flooded when a section of the Bois Brule levee failed. The water receded, but then came up again in September, when the river crested for a 10th time this year.

The National Weather Service said unless additional heavy rains fall to the north of Chester after Oct. 6, the Mississippi River at Chester is expected to drop below flood stage next week. The river at Chester is forecast to drop to 28.6 feet on Oct. 13; 23.7 feet by Oct. 20; 21 feet on Oct. 27; and 18.8 feet by Nov. 3.

The weather service said the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau could drop below flood stage by Oct. 14. The river at Cape is forecast to drop to 32.5 on Oct. 13; 27.4 feet on Oct. 27; and 22.4 feet by Nov. 3.

The river stage at Cape on Friday was 39.3 feet.