Ferry to Undergo Shipyard Maintenance; Expect Crossing Delays

By WYDaily Staff Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The Jamestown-Scotland ferry Pocahontas will be removed from service Monday, Nov. 28, as it undergoes its biennial shipyard period.

A hull inspection, as well as other maintenance, is required by federal law and will have the Pocahontas out of service until February 2012.

The Pocahontas was recently removed from service for four days for emergency maintenance.

As a result, motorists who rely on the ferry should expect travel delays, especially during peak periods. The Williamsburg, Surry and Virginia vessels will continue to ferry motorists across the James River using the normal schedule, but Pocahontas' absence will mean capacity is diminished by about 40 vehicles per hour.

Motorists looking for an alternate route may want to consider using the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, the James River Bridge (Route 17), or the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge (Route 106/156).

Motorists are encouraged to call the VDOT Traffic Information Line at 757-361-3016 or the ferry hotline, 24 hours a day at 1-800-VAFERRY.