Existing Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing to Close Temporarily, Permanent Closure Possible Next Month

While this week’s closure of the Iowa 9/Wisconsin 82 bridge over the Mississippi River at Lansing won’t be permanent, the bridge’s complete shutdown could be just over a month away.

The Iowa DOT’s District 2 Office says construction crews will be closing the Iowa 9/Wisconsin 82 bridge as well as Iowa Highway 26 north of the bridge, from 10 pm until 6 am Tuesday (09.09) and Wednesday (09.10) nights, weather permitting. 

Closure of the existing bridge and roadway will allow crews to bring in heavy equipment and build a crane on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River so work can begin on placing the steel framework on the new bridge, currently under construction.

While the existing bridge will be reopened this week, the DOT’s Pete Hjelmstad says the permanent closure of the structure, originally opened to traffic in 1931, is on the near horizon.

In preparation for the total closure of the existing Mississippi River bridge at Lansing, Hjelmstad says officials are working to establish a ferry boat to transport vehicles back and forth across the river.

The DOT adds that a water taxi, employed during two prior closings of the existing bridge due to structural concerns, may also be brought back. Otherwise, the nearest crossing for motorists is U.S. Highway 18 connecting McGregor, Iowa, to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

For more information on the construction of the new Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing as well as updates on the existing bridge, visit iowadot.gov/lansingbridge or check out Lansing Bridge on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LansingBridge/.)