LANSING - Some welcome news broke last week that the Cassville Car Ferry will be deployed to ferry passengers, after the Blackhawk Bridge in Lansing is demolished this fall.

The ferry will carry passenger cars and pick-up trucks from the Lansing Marina, across the navigation channel, and to the area where the Army Corps of Engineers has their sand pile.

“We got almost 70 people last week at our regular ‘Bridge Talk’ event, held every second Thursday of the month,” Lansing Mayor Mike Verdon said. “People are worried about what’s going to happen when the old bridge is demolished, and so that drove the turnout.”

Verdon confirmed that the 16-car Cassville Car Ferry will serve in Lansing during its off season. He said the service will be offered free of charge, 16 hours per day, seven days per week. The ferry, contrary to any rumors, will not operate ‘on demand,’ but rather on a regular schedule which will be made known to the public.

“Only cars and pick-ups will be allowed on the ferry – even a truck towing a trailer or boat won’t be allowed,” Verdon said. “And, during the morning and afternoon commute times, first priority will be given to workers, and then between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., the ferry will be accessed on a first come, first serve basis.”

Verdon said that as yet, no firm plan is in place for what will happen in the spring when the Cassville Ferry will resume its regular service. He said that aspirationally, Iowa DOT and the contractor Kramer Construction, would like to be able to open one lane of the new bridge up to traffic. But, Verdon emphasized, whether or not that will happen, or when it will happen, remains unknown at this time.