Work Begins To Replace Black Hawk Bridge Over Upper Mississippi River

Work began September 5 to replace the Mississippi River bridge connecting Iowa Highway 9 in Lansing, Iowa, to Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County, Wis. A new bridge is being developed to replace the cantilever bridge referred to as the Black Hawk Bridge, named after Chief Black Hawk.

The structure has served the area since 1931, with a closure from 1945 to 1957 when the crossing was damaged by ice jams. Depreciation over time and changing vehicle size and traffic patterns now call for a new, wider and safer crossing, according to the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation.

Federal funding will cover approximately 80 percent of the new bridge’s $140 million cost. The states of Iowa and Wisconsin will evenly split the remaining costs. The new bridge was designed to mimic the look of the existing bridge while increasing safety and drivability.

The bulk of the construction work for the new bridge will take place alongside the old bridge beginning in 2024 and running through 2026. The new bridge is expected to be fully functional in 2027, after which the old bridge will be removed.