Bridge closes over the Mississippi River, car ferry service to be offered

IOWA / WISCONSIN (CIVIC MEDIA) – Together with the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has announced the closing of the existing WIS 82 / IA 9 Mississippi River bridge (also known as the Black Hawk Bridge) between Crawford County, Wisconsin and Lansing, Iowa as construction continues on the new bridge. Iowa DOT and WisDOT will initiate a free car ferry starting in early November to provide alternative service until the new bridge is projected to open in spring 2027.

The car ferry service is moving ahead after federal and state government agencies issued permits and provided other environmental clearances.

“We are very pleased that federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the city of Lansing, could work together and quickly approve the necessary steps to allow us to provide this critical service,” stated Iowa DOT Director Scott Marler. “These approvals will allow us to install the infrastructure needed for a car ferry to keep our communities connected when the old bridge needs to be closed.”

The free car ferry will provide an alternative way for vehicles to cross the river. A new bridge is being constructed alongside the existing bridge. Iowa DOT, WisDOT, and the contractor have determined that future construction stages on the new bridge pose a risk to the safety of the existing bridge. Once the existing bridge closes on October 20, crews will start to demolish and remove the old structure so that construction on the new bridge can meet the planned 2027 opening.

“We are providing a new and modern structure that stretches across a beautiful and scenic stretch of the Mississippi River,” WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said. “The state and federal approvals confirm that we can build the bridge and offer the car ferry service while still maintaining the natural environment that makes this region so special.”

The project will need to install car ferry landings on both sides of the river. Ferry landing construction is already underway, and the exact start date for the ferry will be announced as the work progresses. On the Iowa side, the landing will be located at the Lansing marina, while the ferry will land on the Wisconsin side just south of the new bridge and adjacent to the construction staging area. Planned site improvements include installation of ferry docks, vehicle queuing areas, directional and informational signs, portable changeable message signs, lights, and other features. On the Iowa side, improvements to railroad crossings at the entrance and exit points of the marina have been completed.

In addition to the car ferry, there will be marked detour routes when the bridge closes. The nearest highway bridge is approximately 30 miles south at US 18 connecting Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin to Marquette, Iowa. The car ferry will serve two-axle vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians, but will not be able to accommodate trucks, buses, trailers, or other large vehicles.

The bridge updates and car ferry service dates will continue to be announced through Iowa DOT’s project website, the Iowa DOT’s project Facebook page, local media, on digital message signs on either end of the bridge, and through 511 Iowa and 511 Wisconsin.

The Iowa DOT and WisDOT project teams are also communicating closely with government officials and other stakeholders in the affected communities. The project website will soon feature an instruction and FAQ section about the car ferry service to help local residents prepare for that option. Individuals may also sign up to receive email updates.​

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