Iowa 9/WIS 82 Mississippi River Crossing Project Announces Bridge Closure Date and Plans for Car Ferry Service

When your school board votes, Decorah News is there to report. Chip in to keep your voice in the room. LANSING, Iowa — The Iowa and Wisconsin departments of transportation are moving forward with plans to close the existing Iowa 9/Wisconsin 82 Mississippi River bridge between Lansing, Iowa, and Crawford County, Wisconsin, as construction on a new bridge continues. The existing Black Hawk Bridge will close to traffic at approximately 7 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20. To maintain river crossing access, the Iowa DOT and WisDOT will launch a free car ferry service beginning in early November. The ferry will operate until the new bridge is expected to open in spring 2027. The service was approved following federal and state environmental reviews. "We are very pleased that federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the city of Lansing, could work together and quickly approve the necessary steps to allow us to provide this critical service," said Iowa DOT Director Scott Marler. "These approvals will allow us to install the infrastructure needed for a car ferry to keep our communities connected when the old bridge needs to be closed." The new bridge is being built alongside the existing structure. DOT officials and contractors determined that continued work on the new bridge poses safety risks to the existing bridge, prompting the October closure. Once closed, crews will begin demolishing the old bridge to stay on track for the 2027 completion. "We are providing a new and modern structure that stretches across a beautiful and scenic stretch of the Mississippi River," said Wisconsin DOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. "The state and federal approvals confirm that we can build the bridge and offer the car ferry service while still maintaining the natural environment that makes this region so special." Ferry landings are under construction on both sides of the river. In Iowa, the landing will be located at the Lansing marina; on the Wisconsin side, it will be just south of the new bridge near the construction staging area. Site improvements include ferry docks, vehicle queuing areas, signage, lighting and other infrastructure. Improvements to railroad crossings at the marina entrance and exit have already been completed. The ferry will accommodate two-axle vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians but will not serve trucks, buses, trailers or other large vehicles. Detour routes will be marked when the bridge closes, with the nearest highway bridge located about 30 miles south on U.S. 18, connecting Marquette, Iowa, to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Updates on the bridge closure and ferry service will be available through the project website, Facebook page, local media, digital message signs, and 511ia.org. Residents can find more information, sign up for email updates and view ferry FAQs at iowadot.gov/lansingbridge or on Facebook at facebook.com/LansingBridge. For real-time traveler information, visit 511ia.org, call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide), or follow 511 Iowa on Facebook or X. Knowledge is power! Stay empowered by subscribing to the free newsletter, packed with valuable insights, stories of local newsmakers and ideas to get your weekend started.