THE Waikerie ferry will be closed between 10am and 5pm today in order for the vessel to be moved onto the lower landing, allowing services to continue as Murray River water levels fall. 

Alternative crossings are available upstream at Kingston bridge and downstream at the Cadell ferry.

Use of the lower landing ferry will be initially restricted to light vehicles, emergency vehicles and local school buses, with the changeover of cabling and equipment expected to be completed within the day.

A DIT spokesperson urged locals to "take extra care on Taylorville Road... with some soft sections present on this road". 

"While the Department has worked to ensure this temporary ferry closure is as short as possible, longer-term repairs to Taylorville Road will be necessary over the coming months to repair the road surface to its pre-flood condition," the spokesperson said. 

The resumption of services for further vehicle types, including B-Double and heavy mass permitted vehicles, will be dependent on water levels and how Taylorville Road and the adjacent bridge perform under light vehicle traffic over the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, a second operator has been stationed at the Lyrup Ferry for the past week in an effort to reduce wait times following strong demand for services.

Berri Barmera and Remark Paringa councils have also lifted restrictions on heavy vehicles on their connecting ferry roads, allowing the previous four-tonne weight restriction to be removed for the Lyrup Ferry.