A car ferry from Iowa to Illinois is up and running as residents wait for the opening of a bridge connecting the two states.
The Telegraph Herald reports that the ferry between Sabula and Savanna, Illinois, began running Tuesday, providing direct access between the two communities for the first time in months.
The February closure of a bridge at Sabula stopped access to the U.S. 52/Illinois 64 bridge over the Mississippi River. Drivers have since been making a 36-mile (58-kilometer) detour.
An already-planned $8.5 million bridge-replacement project was accelerated as a result and is expected to be open by Labor Day.
The ferry can hold 15 vehicles per trip, can be used for free and will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until the bridge is completed.
