Erin Smith, Staff Writer

Residents who are accustomed to traveling Elwell Ferry will have to find an alternate route soon. The ferry is currently out of service due to high water, but soon, it will be towed to Manteo for repairs.

According to the NC Department of Transportation, Elwell Ferry is a cable-guided ferry crossing the Cape Fear River. It has been in service since the early 1900s, and is one of three remaining river ferries in service.

According to Matthew D. Edwards, county maintenance engineer for Department of Transportation in Bladen County, “Elwell Ferry is going to be towed to Manteo to have some routine maintenance performed. While the ferry is Manteo, we plan to perform some work on the ramps.”

The work to the ramps that access the ferry will consist of repairing both sides of the river.

“We are planning on repairing the boat ramp ends,” Edwards said.

He said the ferry will have to be towed from its current location, down the Cape Fear River, and into the Intercoastal Waterway, toward Manteo.

Though the ferry was to be taken out of service in March, Edwards said he has not been contacted by Manteo with regards to picking it up.

The boat launch at Elwell Ferry will also be under going some major repairs beginning on March 24, said Thomas Covington of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The boat launch site will be closed until April 8.

The bottom of the boat ramp has broken off and the entire ramp will be replaced by the Wildlife Resources Commission.

“We are replacing the boat ramp because it was really too steep and too narrow,. We are planning on putting a more user-friendly slope in,” said Covington.

He stated once the work was completed, the ramp would be up to the current state guidelines regarding boat ramps.