Gagetown Ferry coming back after more than 4 years out of service

The Gagetown Ferry will return to service after being out of commission for more than four years, the New Brunswick government announced Monday.

Theferry will return on July 1 and run seven days a week until fall.

"In such a troubling year with COVIDand all the things happening, we are very pleased to have a government that listens to the people of rural New Brunswick,"said WilfHiscock, who has led the Save the Gagetown-Jemseg Ferry. committee.

"We worked hard to get our ferry back."

He saidthe return of the ferry is a huge relief for people living in the area.

Many residents rely on the ferry for medical appointments and farming. Hiscock, a retired police officer, said many first responders also rely on the ferry to assist people in emergencies.

Hiscock, owner of Charlotte's Family Orchard in Gagetown,said the ferry is a particular relief for businesses in the area, which have seen a dip in tourism traffic since the ferry closed.

"That ferry actually got people off the four-lane highway to drive a beautiful route to get to Gagetown."

Ferry removed in 2016

Residents learned in February 2016 that the ferry would not return to service. Theformer Liberal government of Brian Gallant cited maintenance and repair costs for the decision.

Shawn Graham's Liberal government shut down the HampsteadFerry in 2009 and announced it would also close the Gagetown Ferry. After a public backlash, the province decided to reduce crossings instead.

David Alward'sProgressive Conservatives ran the ferry around the clock.

The service announced Monday is seasonal, but Hiscock described it as "ahuge relief off your shoulders."

If a new government takes over and decides to shut the ferry down again, he said, residents will be ready with signs to push back.

"I'm not worried because if that happens then we will certainly do whatever we can to get the ferry back, and it won't be pleasant for them.They'll have to make an awful good case to take it away again."

Even though his party scrapped the ferry in 2016, Liberal Leader Kevin Vickerssaid he's happy to see itreturn. Vickers said heis aware of the people in the area who "very much wanted this."

"I know it was a harder decision back in the day for the party to bring that about," Vickers said. "But Iknow it was the provincial books that were in sight."

He's hopeful this could be the start of a trend where the province helps municipalities with "urgent projects" includingwater and sewage.

Fighting for a ferry

People living along Route 102 in Gagetown, Queenstown and Hampstead have been fighting to bring back the Gagetown Ferry since theLiberalsabandoned the local landmark and refused to reconsider.

"Our government committed to returning ferry service to the people of Gagetown, and today we fulfil that commitment," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Bill Oliver.

"Having this ferry service back in the community will be a huge benefit for the tourism and agricultural sectors in the region."

Without the ferry, it'sa near70-kilometre round-trip detour forresidents, who cross the river foreverything from medical appointments to church services. In summer, the ferry also helps farmers andlocal restaurants, bed and breakfasts and other tourism-reliant businesses.

The province said thereare currently six crossings on the St.John and Kennebecasis rivers serving more than 3.5 million passengers each year.