Release date: December 2, 2025
The COLSAC III car ferry serving WIS 113 traffic across the Wisconsin River between Columbia and Sauk County is closed for the winter. The ferry halted service November 29 due to winter weather conditions. Conditions have not improved sufficiently to resume operations. Offseason maintenance and repair work will begin in preparation for re-opening in the spring of 2026.
In the 2025 operating season, which began March 31, the ferry made 39,734 crossings carrying a total of 208,823 motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.
Commonly known as the Merrimac ferry, the COLSAC III operates free of charge 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the operating season and is listed in the state and national register of historic places.
Learn more about the history of the Merrimac ferry at: Merrimac Ferry (Colsac III)
For more information, contact:
Michael Bie
WisDOT Southwest Region Communication Manager
(608) 246-7928
michael.bie@dot.wi.gov