NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s (DOTD) Crescent City Connection Division (CCCD) announces that the Gretna/Canal Street ferry will return to service Friday, October 5, just in time for the kickoff of this weekend’s 2012 Gretna Heritage Festival.

In anticipation of large crowds, October 5-7, CCCD will begin enhanced service as follows:

SCHEDULE

·         An extended operating schedule will be in effect from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, October 5, from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, October 7.

VESSELS

·         CCCD will operate one vessel at the Gretna route, but will add another depending on crowd size. It will maintain one vessel at Algiers Point/Canal Street and one vessel at Lower Algiers/Chalmette, which will operate on their normal schedules. 

SECURITY

·         The Crescent City Connection Police Department will have presence on each vessel in service at the Gretna/Canal Street route as well as the Algiers Point/Canal Street route and in the Canal Street terminal. Gretna Police Department will provide security at the Gretna Ferry Terminal.

MAINTENANCE

·         CCCD maintenance personnel will be on site at the Canal Street and Gretna terminals for passenger counting and boarding assistance.

The pedestrian only ferry, which services the route from Gretna to Canal Street, has been out of service since February while multiple mechanical problems were being repaired. Departures to and from Gretna will be on the hour and the half-hour during the festival.

More information about the CCCD ferries can be found at www.dotd.louisiana.gov/operations/cccd/ or by calling (504) 376-8100. Travelers can also follow the ferries on Twitter.com at Canal_Ferry, Chalmette_Ferry and Gretna_Ferry.  For traffic information, dial 511 or visit www.511la.org. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).  

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511)

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www.dotd.la.gov