The Connecticut State Bond Commission has earmarked $2 million to be used to complete maintenance and repair work on the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, which has been in operation since 1769.

The $2 million will be used to install a new ferry slip dock, pilings, and wave screens and to replace the existing broken or rotting pilings that are approaching two thirds of a century old.

The pilings, which are driven a dozen feet below the base of the Connecticut River, are used to guide the barges and diesel-powered tugboats. They also prevent river debris from damaging the dock.

The wood used to make the new pilings comes from very specific greenheart trees, which are grown in South America and shipped to the area to be used in marine environments, because the wood is very strong and rot resistant.

The historic vessel has a significant and storied past. Early on, the ferry was used throughout the Revolutionary War to transport supplies across the Connecticut River. The present-day ferry, the Selden III, was built in 1949, and is an open, self-propelled craft, 65 feet long and 30 feet wide, and can carry eight to nine cars and up to 49 passengers.

It which runs seasonally from April 1 through Nov. 30 and crosses over the Connecticut River between Chester and the village of Hadlyme (in the town of Lyme, Connecticut).

The second-oldest continuously operating ferry service in the state of Connecticut, it has been designated a state historical landmark and is part of the scenic portion of Route 148. It provides a convenient link between two of Connecticut’s most visited tourist attractions: Gillette Castle State Park in Hadlyme and the Essex Steam Train, which runs between Essex and Chester.

“I’m extremely happy the state has seen fit to continue funding the operation of the ferries,” said State Senator Norm Needleman (D-33). “The Chester-Hadlyme ferry is very important. It’s part of the historic tourism in the area and it’s also very important to the residents in the area who use it on a regular basis.”

He added, “The ferry checks a lot of boxes and I think it is great that the state is investing in the maintenance of such a historic landmark.”

The repair and maintenance work are slated to begin in November and the hope is that it will be completed over the winter months to avoid interfering with the ferry season and fish spawning season. The expected end date for completion of the project is sometime in March 2020.

During its operational season, the ferry runs Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and weekends 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The state money for the work on the ferry is part of a package deal, which totals $4 million. It will be split equally between the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry and the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry, which is the oldest continually operating ferry in America. Similar work will be completed at each ferry site.