May 28, 2025
LANSING, Iowa – The Iowa DOT says it hopes to have more answers from engineers by the end of the week about whether of not the Blackhawk Bridge across the Mississippi River at Lansing will be able to reopen, but they have already made the decision to restart a water taxi service that was used the last time the bridge was closed due to safety concerns. The bridge was closed on May 18 for the second time in a year due to movement that raised concerns about the structures stability. The decision was made to close the bridge because sensors detected unexpected movement in the structure on May 17.
The closure of the bridge has had an impact on commuters and businesses who travel between communities on both sides of the river, and the water taxi alleviated some of that inconvenience the last time it closed. Unless the bridge reopens, and there is no water taxi, travelers have to use the next closest crossings in either La Crosse or Prairie du Chien. A new bridge is being constructed next to the old bridge but will not be open until 2027.
You can read our previous story about that previous bridge closure here, and our previous story about the water taxi service here.
In a statement on the Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing Facebook page the Iowa DOT said:
We want to update you on what is happening as we move forward with the inspection of the Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing.
On May 17, sensors on the bridge detected movement on one of the piers. That prompted us to close the bridge out of safety concerns.
Since then, our engineering firm, WJE, completed a thorough inspection of the bridge, including working through the holiday weekend, and they are currently analyzing the results. We should have their findings by late Friday to help us decide what is next.
In the meantime, we are moving forward on getting a free water taxi service running again. As you can see in the picture, the dock for the service was installed by our maintenance staff at the Big Slough Landing today.
We will have more information on the water taxi, including when the service will start and the schedule, by early next week.
Thank you again to all who use the bridge for your patience and understanding as we determine the next step to safely get you across the Mississippi River.
For more information on the construction of the new Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing, go to iowadot.gov/lansingbridge and sign up to receive updates directly to your inbox, or you can follow the project at their Facebook page www.facebook.com/LansingBridge/.
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Iowa DOT has no definite date to reopen the Blackhawk Bridge
May 22, 2025
MASON CITY, Iowa – Motorists hoping to use the Blackhawk Bridge over the Mississippi River bridge between Lansing, Iowa, and Crawford County, Wis., will need to continue to make alternate plans. Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) officials confirmed today that the bridge will remain closed due to safety concerns through the Memorial Day weekend.
The Iowa DOT District 2 office closed the bridge on Saturday, May 17, when sensors detected movement exceeding safety thresholds. Follow-up surveys confirmed the movement, and engineering teams are continuing to monitor and inspect the bridge to analyze safety and determine what’s needed to repair the bridge. However, a plan for any fix has not yet been finalized and there is no re-opening date set.
Both Iowa DOT and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) recommend that motorists use the nearest bridges at La Crescent, Minnesota/Lacrosse, Wisconsin, or Marquette, Iowa/Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin to cross the Mississippi River during this closure. The bridge will not be open to vehicle traffic for Memorial Day Weekend, but the river channel below the bridge remains open.
Work on the new bridge is moving forward. For more information on the construction of the new Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing, go to iowadot.gov/lansingbridge and sign up to receive updates directly to your inbox or check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/LansingBridge/.
The latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or X (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.
It’s easy to subscribe to Your 511 and sign up to receive email/text alerts. Visit https://new.511ia.org/#login to sign up. For instructions and help with this feature, visit https://www.511ia.org/help/section/how-to-create-and-manage-a-511-account.html.
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Blackhawk bridge at Lansing closed again due to detected movement
May 18, 2025
LANSING, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Transportation made a decision early Sunday morning to once again close the Blackhawk Bridge that crosses the Mississippi River into Wisconsin after sensors on the bridge detected movement.
The city of Lansing posted a notice about the closure Sunday morning:
After the monitoring system detected movement last night in one of the piers that exceeded safety thresholds. It will remain closed while the sensor data is verified and the situation is assessed. The engineering contractor will be conducting a thorough analysis to determine whether the bridge is safe to reopen. Once they complete their analysis, they will provide a timeline for reopening. This work is expected to be completed this week.
The Iowa DOT is in the process of building a new bridge next to the existing bridge and this is the second time the bridge had to be closed due to movement and safety concerns. In Feb. of 2024 construction on the new bridge is believed to have caused shifting in the old bridge which forced a closure that lasted nearly two months.
You can read our previous stories about the construction project and that water taxi service here.
A live camera view of the Black Hawk Bridge shows no traffic crossing the bridge on Sunday morning.
During that first closure a water taxi transported people across the river during part of that time until the bridge reopened. It is unclear as of right now if that service will be necessary again or what length of time the bridge will be closed. The completion date for the new bridge is not until late next year.
Until the bridge reopens, traveler have to use the next closest crossings in either La Crosse or Prairie du Chien.
The bridge is over 90 years old and the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation are in the process of replacing the old bridge with a new bridge right next to it. The new bridge will be designed to mimic the look of the old one. It will have wider lanes and eight foot wide shoulders that will greatly increase safety. They say the new bridge will have a smooth, concrete deck that will protect the structure from winter maintenance treatments, and that the navigation channel will be increased in order to make it easier for barges to get through the area.
According to the Iowa and Wisconsin DOT the more than 1,700-foot Mississippi River Bridge connecting Iowa Highway 9 in Lansing, Iowa to Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County, Wisconsin stands as an icon for the region. The structure has served the area since 1931 with a closure from 1945 to 1957 when it was damaged by ice dams. The DOT goes on to say depreciation over time and changing vehicle size and traffic patterns now call for a new, wider, safer crossing.
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