The Texas Department of Transportation has opened the ferry to public traffic.

TxDOT had limited access to emergency workers since Hurricane Ike struck Sept. 13. That restriction expired at 6 AM Tuesday, Nov. 11.

A county-imposed curfew is in effect, however, between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM. Stepped-up patrols will be in place, and authorities will have the right to question anyone venturing between the ferry and Rollover Pass Bridge during those hours.

The state will operate two ferries daily. One will run 24 hours, and the other will go in service at 6:30 AM and run for eight to 12 hours daily. Dredging of the ferry landing area is continuing, and a third ferry will go into service in January.

The county no longer operates a checkpoint at Rollover Pass Bridge, which should be open to two-way traffic in several weeks when repairs are complete. The officers that were manning the bridge have been freed to patrol the peninsula.

TxDOT has installed temporary directional signage at the bridge to safely guide motorists across.
 

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