Only months after construction on a new crossing over the Mississippi River in Lansing began, the Iowa Department over the weekend closed the Black Hawk Bridge there after noticing it had moved, sending the estimated 2,200 vehicles that use it every day miles out their way for a detour.
The Iowa DOT said inspectors would examine the bridge Monday, and the bridge would be reopened — or not — depending on what they find.
“At this point, we do not have a timeline as to when or if the bridge will reopen but will keep you updated,” the Iowa DOT said on its website. ”We will not open the bridge until we are sure it is safe.“
A new bridge being built just 50 feet away to connect Iowa’s Allamakee County with Wisconsin’s Crawford County is not expected to be open until late 2026. In the meantime, the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office advised drivers to head far south — using Highway 18 between Marquette and Prairie du Chien, Wis. — or north, crossing the river on Highway 14 between La Crescent, Minn., and La Crosse, Wis.
Crews in January work on building a new bridge over the Mississippi River connecting Allamakee County with Crawford County, Wis. Work began on the Wisconsin side of the river. The new bridge will rise just 50 feet to the north of the historic Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing. (Photo from Iowa Department of Transportation)
In a Facebook post, the Iowa DOT said it had placed monitors on the bridge before construction on the nearby crossing began, and were examining “if construction of the new bridge played a part in the movement.” It described the movement as “slight.”
“We placed monitors on the bridge before construction started and are using data from those monitors in our investigation,” the agency said.
The Black Hawk Bridge opened in 1931 but was closed between 1945 and 1957 after it had been damaged by ice dams, the state transportation department said.
The new bridge, which was designed to have a similar look to the historic bridge, will have a 40-foot road width — up from 21 feet — and have lanes that are 12 feet wide instead of 10 feet. It will stand 15 feet higher — 180 instead of 165 feet — above the normal water level of the river. Its speed limit would remain at 25 mph.
Eighty percent of its $140 million cost will be covered by federal funds, and the rest will be split evenly between the Iowa and Wisconsin transportation departments.
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The Iowa DOT said inspectors would examine the bridge Monday, and the bridge would be reopened — or not — depending on what they find.
“At this point, we do not have a timeline as to when or if the bridge will reopen but will keep you updated,” the Iowa DOT said on its website. ”We will not open the bridge until we are sure it is safe.“
A new bridge being built just 50 feet away to connect Iowa’s Allamakee County with Wisconsin’s Crawford County is not expected to be open until late 2026. In the meantime, the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office advised drivers to head far south — using Highway 18 between Marquette and Prairie du Chien, Wis. — or north, crossing the river on Highway 14 between La Crescent, Minn., and La Crosse, Wis.
In a Facebook post, the Iowa DOT said it had placed monitors on the bridge before construction on the nearby crossing began, and were examining “if construction of the new bridge played a part in the movement.” It described the movement as “slight.”
“We placed monitors on the bridge before construction started and are using data from those monitors in our investigation,” the agency said.
The Black Hawk Bridge opened in 1931 but was closed between 1945 and 1957 after it had been damaged by ice dams, the state transportation department said.
The new bridge, which was designed to have a similar look to the historic bridge, will have a 40-foot road width — up from 21 feet — and have lanes that are 12 feet wide instead of 10 feet. It will stand 15 feet higher — 180 instead of 165 feet — above the normal water level of the river. Its speed limit would remain at 25 mph.
Eighty percent of its $140 million cost will be covered by federal funds, and the rest will be split evenly between the Iowa and Wisconsin transportation departments.
State closes Lansing bridge over Mississippi after movement found
The closure sends an estimated 2,200 vehicles that use it every day miles out their way for a detour.
www.thegazette.com
