Nov. 1, 2025
By Tim Hundt
CRAWFORD COUNTY, Wis. — A new chapter in connecting Wisconsin and Iowa across the Mississippi River begins Monday, Nov. 3, as a free car ferry service launches to replace the vital link once provided by the Black Hawk Bridge. This temporary service steps in following the permanent closure of the nearly century-old bridge, necessitated by ongoing construction of its modern replacement.
For residents of Vernon County and neighboring Crawford County, the ferry will maintain a crucial connection to Lansing, Iowa, during the two-year construction gap. Without the connection commuters are forced to drive north to La Crosse or south to Prairie du Chien to cross the river.
A Nearly Century-Old Icon Faces Retirement
The bridge, also known as the “Lansing bridge,” connects Iowa Highway 9 in Lansing to Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County. It has stood as a regional icon since its completion in 1931. The structure, a riveted cantilever through truss design, served as a primary crossing for generations, though its history was marked by periods of disruption.
The bridge was closed for 12 years—from 1945 until 1957—after being severely damaged by ice damming. In recent years, the aging structure, coupled with its narrow width and obsolete design, prompted the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) to plan for a replacement.
Replacement planning began with feasibility studies in 2004, and construction on the new, modern $140 million span began in September 2023.
As construction of the new bridge advanced, the existing Black Hawk Bridge experienced repeated safety concerns. In February 2024 and again in May 2025, movement was detected in the bridge piers, believed to be caused by the driving of deep foundations for the adjacent new structure. These safety risks led officials to determine that continued use of the old bridge was unsafe as heavy construction phases ramped up.
The old Black Hawk Bridge closed permanently on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, at 7 a.m.. Crews immediately began the process of demolition and removal to clear the path for the new structure.
Construction Timeline and New Bridge Details
The bulk of the construction work on the replacement bridge is taking place alongside the old structure from 2024 through 2026. The new bridge, which will feature a design similar to the original, is slated to open in the spring of 2027.
The replacement is designed with modern load standards, wider lanes, and 8-foot-wide shoulders to greatly enhance safety and traffic flow. Additionally, it will include a pedestrian and bicycle path and improved navigation clearance for river traffic. Approximately 80 percent of the $140 million project cost is covered by federal funding, with Iowa and Wisconsin splitting the remainder.
Car Ferry Service Logistics
To maintain connectivity during the closure, the Iowa DOT and Wisconsin DOT are launching a free car ferry service starting Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. This temporary service utilizes the 12-vehicle Cassville Car Ferry.
You can watch a video of ferry test runs here.
Operational Details:
- Cost: The service is free of charge.
- Schedule: The ferry will operate 16 hours a day, seven days a week.
- The first daily departure from Wisconsin is at 5:30 a.m., and from Iowa at 5:45 a.m..
- The final daily departure from Wisconsin is at 9 p.m., and from Iowa at 9:15 p.m..
- One-way cycles, including loading and unloading, are estimated to take about 15 minutes.
- On Iowa DOT-observed holidays, the ferry will operate on a revised schedule from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Thanksgiving (Nov. 27–28), and Christmas (Dec. 25) will follow this revised schedule.
- Priority Access: To ensure efficient travel for workers, priority access is requested for commuter traffic during peak hours: 5:30–7:30 a.m. and 3:30–5:30 p.m..
- Allowed Vehicles: The ferry accommodates cars, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, and two-axle trucks weighing under 10 tons.
- Prohibited Vehicles: Larger vehicles such as RVs, buses, farm equipment, ATV/UTVs, or vehicles towing trailers are not allowed. These larger vehicles must use the marked detour route to the nearest highway bridge, located 30 miles south at U.S. 18 between Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and Marquette, Iowa.
- Ferry Landings: Landings have been constructed at the Lansing Marina on the Iowa side and on the Wisconsin side, just south of the new bridge construction staging area.
Ferry service may be temporarily suspended due to weather, river conditions, commercial river traffic, or maintenance needs. Officials have pledged to keep the public informed of schedule and construction updates via the Iowa DOT project website, the project Facebook page, local media, and the 511 Iowa and 511 Wisconsin traffic systems.
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