Black Hawk Bridge to remain open through the summer ...

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) reported Tuesday, July 1 that it intends to keep the Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing open throughout the summer while construction continues on the new bridge adjacent to the current structure. The DOT will maintain its safety monitoring system on the Black Hawk Bridge while work continues on the new bridge. Having initially proposed a temporary closing of the bridge sometime after the Fourth of July weekend to accommodate some of that new construction process, DOT officials have since explained that they have been “looking at all options” in regard to continuing to construct the new bridge while maintaining the safety of the current bridge, and they say they continue to use daily analysis to determine the best course of action.

In regard to any future closings of the Black Hawk Bridge, DOT officials say none are currently scheduled but there is the possibility of another temporary closure in the fall, and they continue to evaluate all possibilities that may impact any future closings of the existing bridge and will provide updates as soon as they become available. They also noted that they are continuing to evaluate contingency plans to allow people to cross the river in the event of any bridge closure.

The latest update on the construction of the new bridge highlights the pouring of the concrete deck on the western approach of the bridge on the Wisconsin side (as depicted in the three lower photos). DOT officials noted that 51 loads of concrete were pumped from the ground to that bridge deck in an all-day effort Tuesday, July 1, covering the 43’ x 364’ area with 510 cubic yards of concrete, which has since spent the last week curing under brown burlap. The next big concrete pour will be for pier two in the river (the forms of which are pictured in the photo above), which DOT officials say is anticipated to happen in the next week or two and will involve at least another 510 cubic feet of concrete.

Note was also made that, despite the rising of the Mississippi River by nearly two feet this past week-plus due to rainfall impacts both locally and making their way down the river from the north, construction on the new bridge has not been slowed and river levels have now lowered over this past weekend and are forecasted to continue to do so. Photos by the Iowa Department of Transportation.