OLD SHAWNEETOWN – State Senator Dale Fowler announced Friday the completion of the Old Shawneetown Ohio River Boat Ramp would like to formally invite local leaders and the public to a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the newly redone ramp.

Senator Fowler said in a statement that the completion of this project is huge for Gallatin County and the surrounding area and thanks everyone who played a role in seeing this project through. Between state, federal, and local agencies, Fowler said it was all-hands-on-deck to get the residents of this area the new boat ramp they deserve for both public safety and recreational purposes.

Earlier this summer, local leaders and project stakeholders’ broke ground on the project officially starting construction on June 20, 2023. Since then, Brown and Roberts Inc., who oversaw the project, has elevated a portion of the lower ramp and parking area, completed a new boat access ramp, placed two jetties into the river to divert siltation, and replaced nearly 2,000 square feet of parking lot and rip rap along the area.

Gallatin County Emergency Management will launch their emergency rescue boat during the ceremony scheduled for this Saturday at 11 a.m. at the new boat ramp.

Gallatin County Emergency Management Director, Steve Gault, says this new boat ramp plays a vital role in public safety and it’s only fitting that the first boat launched is their emergency rescue boat considering it’s been 15 years since they’ve had river access from the Illinois side.

Gault says this new ramp will ensure faster response times and could save lives as they now have immediate access to river emergencies versus having a 35–40 minute drive to launch any sort of water response call.

The project was made possible by an $800,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.