Ferry(S) connecting Sections of US Highways

[Max Rockatansky]

The one everyone forgets about with California was that early US 40 used the Benica-Martinez Ferry until June 1931.  The state had intended to purchase the original Carquinez Bridge (completed in 1927) but ultimately didn't until 1940. 

https://www.gribblenation.org/2019/11/the-original-alignment-of-us-route-40.html?fbclid=IwZnRzaAShNExleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeFdRK1h0vMUuSJa7pY_pO9uJVMwBvCYlQPQD4hL8-tIUFFr4H3SXE4ty638E_aem_hUkyje2gf_Kfrw4lRy47hA&m=1

[Mapmikey]

I've heard there were ferry crossings across larger rivers in the early days of the system, but has anyone compiled a list of these?

I'm working on compiling a list.  I've currently identified 27, but so far that's just through haphazardly researching various sources.  I'm not sure if there's an authoritative source that would conclusively identify all US routes that ever had a ferry segment...?

It appears that South Carolina had none.

North Carolina had one original ferry that I can find:  US 17 over Cape Fear River to Wilmington.  The first bridge was opened in 1929.  Of course, US 64 had the Alligator River ferry 1951-60 and US 64-264 had the Croatan Sound ferry 1951-55.

Virginia had these:
US 13 - Little Creek-Cape Charles 1943-51
US 13 - Little Creek-Kiptopeke 1951-64
US 13 ALT - Fort Monroe-Kiptopeke (proposed 1958, but voted down by VDOH)
US 17 - Norfolk-Newport News 1927-31
US 17 - Yorktown-Gloucester 1927-52
US 58 - Portsmouth-Norfolk 1931-57
US 60 - Newport News-Norfolk 1927-29
US 60 - Fort Monroe-Norfolk 1929-57
US 117 - Portsmouth-Norfolk 1929-31
US 121 - Jacksons Ferry over the New River 1927-1930

[Dirt Roads]

Now that this thread has strayed into old ferries, West Virginia had one and almost had another.

(1) After the November 1971 collapse of the Silver Bridge on US-35 across the Ohio River at Point Pleasant, the DOH permanently closed its' sister bridge on Alt US-50 in St. Marys (also across the Ohio).  The old St. Marys Ferry was reopened to traffic, and became part of Alt US-50 until it was decomissioned in 1976.  The ferry continued to operate for about a year until the opening of the Hi Carpenter Bridge in November 1977. 

Fun fact:  A short section of the old Alt US-50 (former US-50N) remains as the bridge that crosses what is called "The Thoroughfare" back channel of the Ohio River between Middle Island and St. Marys.

(2) After the Great Flood of 1936 at the town of Harpers Ferry, there was serious discussion about reopening the old Harper's Ferry across the Shenandoah River to create a detour route into the far northwest corner of Virginia (essentially what is today's routing of US-340 into Loudoun County).  Instead, the folks in Maryland scrambled to restore the old 1896 Baltimore and Ohio bridge that originally handled the Shenandoah Branch trackage.  Since this bridge was access to the grand ole' B&O Maryland Heights Tunnel (still a railroad mainline), there was what we railroaders call a "shoo-fly" constructed along the bottom of the cliff to create s tight zig-zag connecting the detour bridge to the remainder of Maryland Heights Road (the original US-340). US-340 continued to use that route until it was rerouted back into Virginia to cross the Sandy Hook Bridge in 1947.  All because there is no possibility to have a ferry across the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry due to the huge expanse of rapids. 

Another fun fact:  The original B&O 1896 bridge was part of the original Appalachian Trail and this section had opened prior to the Great Flood of 1936.  It still exists today and its view across the Potomac is considered to be the mid-point achievement for those hiking the Appalachian Trail end-to-end.  But between 1936 and 1947, the Appalachian Trail had to share the bridge with US-340.  The entire trail wasn't complete until 1937.

[GaryV]

US 23, 27, and 31 before the Mackinac Bridge was built

According to what I read at US Ends and Michigan Highways websites, only US-31 crossed the Straits on the ferries. US-27 used the Mackinac Bridge for a little while until it was changed to I-75.

[Molandfreak]

US 23, 27, and 31 before the Mackinac Bridge was built

According to what I read at US Ends and Michigan Highways websites, only US-31 crossed the Straits on the ferries. US-27 used the Mackinac Bridge for a little while until it was changed to I-75.

I've read conflicting information about it from various sources.