A three-week closure of the existing bridge over the Mississippi River at Lansing has come to an end.
The Iowa DOT announced Monday (06.09) that the Iowa 9/Wisconsin 82 bridge across the Mississippi River, connecting Lansing, Iowa, and Crawford County, Wisconsin, reopened to traffic at about 10 am.
The Iowa DOT District 2 office closed the bridge on May 17th when sensors detected movement in the almost 75-year-old structure. Following a detailed inspection and engineering analysis, Iowa DOT has determined that the bridge is safe for motor vehicle traffic with the same size and weight restrictions that were in place before. Iowa DOT will continually monitor the bridge to ensure safety.
While the bridge has reopened, Iowa DOT will continue to offer a shuttle and water taxi to cross the river, Monday through Saturday, with scheduled departures starting as early as 6:45 AM and ending at 5:37 PM. The free service includes designated vehicle parking areas at Lansing City Hall in Iowa and the DeSoto Community Center in Wisconsin. From those locations, a shuttle will drive passengers to the river landings where the water taxi will cross the river.
Iowa DOT anticipates another multi-week closure of the existing bridge this summer to allow for certain construction activities on the new bridge being erected nearby. The existing bridge will be open at least through the July 4 weekend and any future planned closures will be publicized at least one week in advance through the project web page, project Facebook page, local media, message signs on either end of the bridge, and through 511 Iowa.
The current bridge has served the area since 1931 with a closure from 1945 to 1957 when the crossing was damaged by ice dams. Depreciation over time and changing vehicle size and traffic patterns now call for a new, wider, safer crossing, with the new bridge targeted for completion by Fall 2026.
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The shuttle / ferry service is free for all passengers. Locations, schedules, and other details and are available online at https://iowadot.gov/modes-travel/roads-highways/major-construction-projects/mississippi-river-bridge-lansing/free-shuttle-water-taxi.
For more information on the construction of the new Mississippi River 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 your inbox or check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/LansingBridge/.
The latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or X (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.
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