Substructure complete on new bridge ...

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) reports that the substructure of the new bridge being constructed over the Mississippi River at Lansing is now complete, with all the concrete piers and abutments of the structure having been poured and awaiting the next steps in the construction process. The DOT says the project contractor, Kraemer North America, is currently prepping the Iowa side (at right in each of the two photos) for a crane to move in and start setting the steel for the new bridge, with that next step in the process currently expected to begin in early October.

DOT officials have further confirmed that the absolute earliest date the Black Hawk Bridge will be permanently closed will be October 15 of this year. Those officials also advise that the October 15 date is not an absolute date at this point and would only happen if the minimal amount of time is taken for review and approval of the demolition plan for the Black Hawk Bridge by the numerous agencies involved in that process.

The DOT further points out that the turn that barge traffic has had to make coming from the north on the river is considered one of the toughest turns to navigate on the Mississippi River because of the narrow distance between the existing piers of the Black Hawk Bridge. As evident in the two photos at right, the distance between the bridge piers will be increased with the new bridge construction. Instead of the 640-foot width between the two piers of the Black Hawk Bridge, the distance between the two piers on the new bridge will be 750 feet. The DOT further notes that the two round concrete structures, or dolphins (only one of which is evident in the accompanying photos), that currently protect the old bridge piers from barge hits, will be removed as well, further making the turn easier to complete. Photos courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation.