Iowa DOT opens Black Hawk Bridge back up to traffic after three-week closure; Water taxi will remain in use for now

After three weeks of closure due to safety precautions, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has reopened the Black Hawk Bridge across the Mississippi River connecting Lansing and Crawford County, WI. The bridge was opened back up to traffic starting at approximately 10 a.m. Monday, June 9.

The Iowa DOT District 2 office had closed the Black Hawk Bridge late Saturday, May 17, when the sensor system being used to help monitor the bridge detected movement in the area of the third pier as one travels east across the bridge. Following a detailed inspection and engineering analysis over the past three weeks, Iowa DOT has determined that the bridge is safe for motor vehicle traffic with the same size and weight restrictions that were in place prior to the May 17 closure. The extensive analysis and inspection process determined that no repairs were deemed necessary from the detected movement, and the Iowa DOT will continually monitor the bridge to ensure continued safety.

With the new bridge being constructed alongside the existing bridge, Iowa DOT officials say they anticipate another multi-week closure of the existing bridge later this summer to allow for certain construction activities on the new bridge that will include the driving of pilings into the river bed for the new bridge, an activity which is believed to have played a role in the recent movement of the bridge that resulted in the May 17 closure. DOT officials say the closure planned for later this summer will be as a safety precaution as the necessary pile driving takes place for the new bridge, with officials wanting to be cautious of any impact that activity might have on the Black Hawk Bridge.

The DOT is planning to keep the bridge open at least through the July 4 weekend and will publicize any future planned closures at least one week in advance. Planned closures will be announced through the bridge project web page, the project Facebook page, local media, on variable message signs on either end of the bridge, and through 511 Iowa.

Even though the bridge has reopened, the Iowa DOT will continue to offer the shuttle and water taxi service that began last week as a means for crossing the river. The service is offered Monday through Saturday, with scheduled departures starting as early as 6:45 a.m. and ending at 5:37 p.m. The service includes designated vehicle parking areas at the Lansing City Hall in Iowa and the De Soto Community Center in Wisconsin. From those locations, a shuttle vehicle will drive passengers to the river landings where the water taxi will cross the river.

The shuttle/ferry service is free for all passengers and is anticipated to run for its entire five-week contracted schedule, which began Wednesday, June 4. Locations, schedules, and other details are available online at https://iowadot.gov/modes-travel/roads-highways/major-construction-proje....

For continued updates on construction of the new bridge at Lansing, as well as updates on the existing bridge status, go to iowadot.gov/lansingbridge and sign up to receive updates directly to an email inbox or check out the project’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LansingBridge/.