Stabilizing Lansing bridge over Mississippi River could take months

It could take up to two months to stabilize the historic Black Hawk Bridge over the Mississippi River at Lansing, which was closed Sunday after engineers noticed a “slight” movement of the structure.

While the bridge remains closed, drivers who used it to cross between Allamakee County and Crawford County in Wisconsin will have to drive miles away to find another bridge over the river — either to the south using Highway 18 between Marquette and Prairie du Chien, Wis., or to the north, crossing the river on Highway 14 between La Crescent, Minn., and La Crosse, Wis. The Iowa Department of Transportation estimates about 2,200 drivers cross the Black Hawk Bridge every day.

The Iowa DOT announced Tuesday in a Facebook post that it was working on “alternative transportation options for those who rely on the bridge” but didn’t say what those might entail. A commenter on the agency’s post suggested a ferry.

The bridge, which opened in 1931 but later was closed for about 17 years after it was damaged by ice dams, was blockaded Sunday out of safety concerns. Engineers were sent to inspect the bridge Monday and determine how to proceed.

Just 50 feet to the north of the Black Hawk Bridge, construction of a new $140 million bridge to replace it began last fall. But the new connector is not expected to be complete until the end of 2026.

“After thoroughly inspecting the bridge, engineers have determined there has been movement in two existing bridge piers near the work zone,” the Iowa DOT announced Tuesday. “Work is already in progress to stabilize the two impacted piers so we can reopen the bridge as quickly as possible. However, work is expected to take up to two months. The bridge will not be reopened until it is deemed safe.”