Lansing Bridge closed, scheduled for demolition in southwestern Wisconsin

LANSING, Iowa (WLCX) – The Department of Transportation (DOT) in Iowa announced Monday that the Lansing Bridge, also known as the Black Hawk Bridge, is closed permanently as of the morning of Monday, Oct. 20.

Demolition of the 94-year-old bridge began immediately after the closure, according to the DOT.

According to a press release, with the bridge’s closure, people will either have to use the free water ferry set up to cross between De Soto, Wis. and Lansing, Iowa, or use the posted detour south through Prairie du Chien, Wis.

Heavier truck traffic will need to use the posted detour about a half-hour to the south or drive north through La Crosse, Wis. in order to get across.

“After extensive engineering analysis and talks between Iowa and Wisconsin DOTs and the contractor, we’ve determined that future construction stages on the new bridge could pose a safety risk to the existing bridge,” the Iowa DOT wrote in a post on the project’s social media page. “So, this fall (2025) crews will close and demolish it so we can safely continue our work and meet the deadline for the 2027 opening of the new bridge.”

The free car ferry will begin service in early November and is expected to last until the replacement bridge is fully constructed and open. That is scheduled for 2027. Work on the replacement bridge, which carried an initial price tag of $140 million, began in 2023.

“We are providing a new and modern structure that stretches across a beautiful and scenic stretch of the Mississippi River,” Kristina Boardman, Wisconsin DOT Secretary, said in a press release. “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.”

Federal officials estimated that about 2,200 motorists used the bridge, which was originally built in 1931, daily.

Earlier this year, the bridge was closed due to a sensor detecting a shift in one of the piers on May 17. It was reopened on June 9 after engineers determined there was no safety risk.

The bridge was also closed last year to have two new piers set and bridge decking replaced after construction on its replacement shifted part of the bridge in late February of 2024. The bridge was re-opened on April 20 of last year.

For people looking for more information about the car ferries, you can find schedules and updates on the Iowa DOT website.