DOTD lifting high-water restrictions for Plaquemine/Sunshine ferry
Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at 10:53:12 AM
Baton Rouge, LA – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced today that the high-water restrictions for the Plaquemine/Sunshine ferry will no longer be in effect due to receding water levels in the Mississippi River. The ferry will resume its normal loading capacity, allowing vehicles with a maximum length of 51’ to board.

The department placed high-water restrictions on the ferry on February 28 and again on April 24. The Mississippi River level at Baton Rouge is currently at 39.95’ and forecast to continue dropping.

As a reminder, the normal ferry hours are as follows:
  • Monday through Friday, the first boat runs from 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Monday through Friday, the second boat runs from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday, one boat runs from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
When two ferries are in operation, they are scheduled to depart every 15 minutes. When there is only one, it leaves every 30 minutes (departs Plaquemine at :00 and :30, Sunshine at :15 and :45).

Call 511 or visit www.511la.org for additional travel information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at http://www.dotd.la.gov/, by selecting MYDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.