BATON ROUGE – DOTD announced that the department will permanently operate a second morning ferry at the Plaquemine landing.

The landing was added temporarily last month following the flood to ease congestion and benefit drivers. The ferry's hours of operation will be extended a half hour each weekday. The ferry will operate on weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.. The second ferry previously operated only until 8:30 a.m. each weekday.

During the time period when the landing was added temporarily an additional 230 vehicles were carried each day.

The Plaquemine Ferry carried more than 450,000 vehicles last fiscal year, which was a 12 percent increase from the previous year and due to the addition of a second afternoon ferry.

This additional morning ferry allows up to 120 vehicles per hour to cross the Mississippi River. For more information about available ferry services, click here.