Contact:
Michael Bie, WisDOT Southwest Region
(608) 246-7928; michael.bie@dot.wi.gov
The Merrimac Ferry is open for the 2019 season. In season the ferry, which serves as Highway 113 across the Wisconsin River between Sauk and Columbia counties, shuttles vehicles and bicycles free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In 2018 the ferry, formally called the COLSAC III, made 46,613 trips carrying 239,783 vehicles across the river between Merrimac on the north bank and Okee on the south. The ferry holds 15 vehicles at a time, in addition to bicycles and pedestrians, and takes about seven minutes for a single crossing.
Travelers can register for alerts when the ferry is temporarily closed due to routine maintenance throughout the year. Simply visit wisconsindot.gov/Pages/travel/water/merrimac/default.aspx and follow the instructions. Ferry closure alerts will also be posted on the WisDOT Southwest Region Twitter page; follow us at @WisDOTsouthwest. Alerts and updates provided via these sites are not intended for use while driving. When driving, your focus should always be on driving.
The ferry will remain open until ice forms again on the Wisconsin River, hopefully not until fall.
