BATON ROUGE - State traffic officials announced Thursday that Plaquemine Ferry service will be temporarily suspended Friday morning to allow maintenance crews to build a higher access ramp for vehicles to board the ferry.

The closure begins Friday, Jan. 8 at 6 a.m. Normal operating hours for the Plaquemine Ferry are 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a second ferry in service from 3:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Weekend operating hours are 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Officials will advise when the work is complete. No estimate was provided on how long the temporary suspension of service will be in effect.

Traffic officials note that they are closely monitoring the level of the Mississippi River. In the event the river rises to level that makes the ferry unsafe for operation, LA DOTD will alert the public. You can get ferry status updates by calling 1 (888) 613-3779 or by visiting the “Ferry Status” page on DOTD’s website. Updates are also available via Twitter: @PlaquemineFerry.