VernonReporter

Iowa Governor Reynolds issues disaster proclamation to free federal funds to repair Blackhawk Bridge

DES MOINES, Iowa – Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Allamakee and Clayton County on Friday, March 1 in response to a sudden structural failure of the Blackhawk Bridge at Lansing, Iowa last week. The bridge is a major connection point between Iowa and Wisconsin across the Mississippi River that connects Iowa Highway 9 to Wisconsin Highway 35. With the bridge closed commuters from both sides of the river will have to travel an hour north to La Crosse, or 30 minutes south to Prairie du Chien, to cross the river while the bridge is closed.

The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through March 30, 2024. The governor’s proclamation activates the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Repair (ER) Program which authorizes emergency relief funding to cover the costs of repair or reconstruction of federal-aid routes that have suffered severe damage as a result of sudden structural failure. 

You can read our previous stories below for more information on the cause of the failure and the construction of a new bridge that is underway to replace the current bridge.

For more information about the construction project, to sign up for construction alerts or to see a livestream of the bridge you can go to the Iowa and Wisconsin DOT website. Or follow the project on the Facebook page.


previous post – Wednesday, Feb. 28

Engineers pinpoint cause of movement, estimate repairs will take about two months

LANSING, Iowa – On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Iowa Department of Transportation was alerted to unexpected movement on the existing Mississippi River Bridge connecting Iowa Highway 9 in Lansing, Iowa to Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County, Wisconsin. The bridge was closed as a result of this discovery.

The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation have now provided more information on how long the Blackhawk Bridge across the Mississippi River at Lansing, Iowa will be closed because of concerns over structural issues. After thoroughly inspecting the bridge, engineers have determined there has been movement in two existing bridge piers near the work zone.

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. Engineers say the bridge will not be reopened until it is deemed safe.

The nearest bridges for vehicle traffic to cross the Mississippi River are at La Crescent, Minnesota/Lacrosse, Wisconsin, or Marquette, Iowa/Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Transportation officials say they are currently working on alternative transportation options for those who rely on the bridge.

You can also find updates here or on the Mississippi River Bridge at the Lansing Facebook page.


Previous post – Monday, Feb. 25

LANSING, Iowa – Iowa and Wisconsin transportation officials closed the Blackhawk Bridge that crosses the Mississippi River at Lansing on Sunday afternoon out of caution when unusual movement in the bridge was detected by sensors. The notice of closure stated they would doing a closer inspection to try and determine the cause of the movement.

Today transportation officials issued the statement below regarding that inspection: “We closed the Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing on Sunday because of safety concerns. We have confirmed the bridge has moved and engineers from the Iowa DOT and other agencies are currently investigating to see exactly what is happening, including determining if construction of the new bridge played a part in the movement. We placed monitors on the bridge before construction started and are using data from those monitors in our investigation.

At this point, we do not have a timeline as to when or if the bridge will re-open but will keep you updated. We will not open the bridge until we are sure it is safe.”


Previous post – Sunday, Feb. 25 about 2:00 p.m.

LANSING, Iowa – An emergency alert put out by the Iowa and Wisconsin DOT said they decided to close the bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Lansing on Sunday afternoon “after discovering some slight movement” and a “structural issue”. The alert did not give anymore detail but said the bridge would undergo a closer inspection on Monday.

Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT

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. You may have heard of this impressive cantilever bridge referred to as the Black Hawk Bridge. 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.

Construction began last fall and the pilings for the new bridge are being installed right now. The bulk of the construction work for the new bridge will take place alongside the old bridge from 2024 through 2026. The old bridge will remain in use during this time. The new bridge is expected to be fully functional in 2027 at which point the old bridge will be removed.

The DOT says federal funding will cover approximately 80% of the $140 million cost of the bridge, with the rest split between Iowa and Wisconsin.  The current bridge will remain in use until the new bridge is built.  

For more information about the construction project, to sign up for construction alerts or to see a livestream of the bridge you can go to the Iowa and Wisconsin DOT website. Or follow the project on the Facebook page.

A rendering of what the new Lansing Bridge will look like
A rendering of what the new Lansing Bridge will look like
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT
Photos by Iowa and Wisconsin DOT

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