Improvements to be made to accommodate higher traffic volume at Lansing Marina ...

In anticipation of the car ferry to be utilized during the approximate two-year timeframe between the closure of the Black Hawk Bridge and completion of the new replacement bridge at Lansing, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will be completing improvements during the final weeks of September to both the north and south driveways of the Lansing Marina, including the railroad crossings. The improvements are being completed to help facilitate the much higher traffic volume expected with the car ferry docking at the marina on the Iowa side of the river crossing. The ferry is currently being planned to trek between its marina landing area on the Iowa side diagonally to what is termed the “beneficial use site” - and more commonly known as the sand piling site - on the Wisconsin side of the river, just south of the bridges (partially hidden behind the bridge piers in the photo background above), with the ferry passing under the Black Hawk Bridge and coordination details being worked out with the demolition of the current bridge and continued construction of the new bridge.

DOT officials began work on the north driveway access to the marina Monday, September 22 and expect that improvement work to continue throughout this week, with work on the south driveway expected to commence Monday, September 29. Each driveway being worked on will be closed to vehicle traffic during the improvement process, with access still allowed via the other driveway not being worked on. Front Street is expected to remain open throughout the entire project process, with flaggers being utilized as needed to direct traffic.

According to DOT officials, the earliest the Black Hawk Bridge will close will be October 15, with details continuing to be finalized as the demolition plan for the bridge is currently being reviewed for approval by multiple agencies. Similarly, the official start date of the car ferry at the Lansing area is also being finalized, but Lansing Mayor Mike Verdon stated at the most recent Lansing City Council meeting (see Page 8) that, according to recent information shared, the Cassville, WI ferry initially being utilized to accommodate the river crossing will complete its current season at the end of the month of October before making its way north up the river to serve the Lansing area river crossing. Further details will be provided as they become available.