Lansing bridge will close more than a year before new bridge opens

Black Hawk Bridge, a historic structure that links Lansing and western Wisconsin over the Mississippi River, will be demolished later this year, more than a year before construction of a replacement bridge is scheduled to be completed.

The Iowa Department of Transportation announced earlier this week that it has been working with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the bridge contractor to revise the entities’ plans for completing construction of a new Iowa 9/WIS 82 bridge.

The new plan will demolish the existing bridge this fall so “the new bridge can be safely constructed and opened as planned in 2027.”

“While recognizing the impact to the communities, this plan ensures safety for motorists, construction workers, rail traffic, and Mississippi River traffic,” the release from the Iowa DOT states.

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The Iowa DOT estimates 2,200 drivers cross the 94-year-old Black Hawk Bridge daily. When it is closed, drivers needing to cross the Mississippi must detour to the closest other crossings, which add at least 70 miles to the round trip.

The Black Hawk Bridge has been closed twice before during construction of the new bridge. Once, in February 2024 after some of its piers shifted, likely because of construction of the new bridge, which is being built just yards away.

That closure lasted nearly two months, during which time the state offered a ferry service to shuttle people — but not their vehicles — across the river.

The second closure happened in May of this year due to sensor-detected movement, and the bridge was reopened following a detailed inspection and engineering analysis.

The Iowa DOT said it is considering options for alternative ways of transporting people across the river.

“The project team is investigating opportunities for alternative river crossings to support businesses, institutions, and individuals in Iowa and Wisconsin,” the release states. “This may include restoration of the water taxi service offered during previous closures or other options, and both states will maintain viable roadway detours.”

In the comments section of a Facebook post announcing the bridge demolition, the Iowa DOT account responded to a question that “A car ferry is one of the options we are currently looking into.”

The date of the closure has not yet been announced. The DOT release states that it will be announced through the project website, the project Facebook page, local media, on message signs on either end of the bridge, and through 511iowa.org.