Aging Black Hawk Bridge Closing for Demolition Ahead of 2027 Replacement

LANSING, Iowa — The Black Hawk Bridge, a key Mississippi River crossing that links rural southwest Wisconsin with Lansing, Iowa, will permanently close this fall and be demolished after nearly a century in service, the Iowa Department of Transportation confirmed this week.

Construction began in 2023 on a modern replacement for the 94-year-old structure — the only bridge crossing the river for 60 miles between La Crosse and Prairie du Chien. While the new bridge is on track to open by late 2027, maintaining the old bridge during construction has proven increasingly risky.

“We’ve come to a point where we can no longer continue construction of the new bridge and maintain the existing bridge while considering the safety of the public as well as the safety of the workers driving these piling next to the existing bridge,” said Clayton Burke, project manager for the Iowa DOT.

The bridge, which serves about 2,250 vehicles daily, has been temporarily closed twice during construction — once in early 2024 when piers shifted, and again this summer after sensors detected movement in a support pier.

“If we don’t close it now, that just means that the opening of the new bridge will be that much later,” Burke explained.

Locals are bracing for the disruption. Shannon Schultz, who runs The Bright Spot restaurant in De Soto, depends on the bridge for quick trips across the river.

“There’s a Kwik Trip over there, a nice little grocery store, a hardware store. It’s handy for us,” Schultz said. “We have a lot of seniors and customers who come from Iowa. So yeah … it’s a big concern for everybody.”

Kyle Kozelka, Crawford County’s highway commissioner, noted the impact on daily life for many cross-river commuters. “There’s a lot of people that live on one side of the river and work on the other, same with people whose kids go to school,” he said. Still, he added that many locals are eager for a safer structure: “You know, a lot of people get butterflies or they’re a little scared going over it.”

To help residents during the closure, the Iowa DOT is exploring renewed shuttle and water taxi services — and is considering adding a car ferry to maintain access while the old bridge is demolished.

“There are a lot of logistics to work through and several challenges to get past to actually get that in operation, but it is something that we are very actively working on,” Burke said.

Once the closure date is finalized — likely in October — crews will demolish the bridge using controlled explosions and remove debris quickly to keep the river channel clear.

• The Black Hawk Bridge, opened in 1931, is one of the last remaining cantilever truss bridges over the Mississippi River and is a local landmark.
• When complete, the replacement bridge will be wider and more resilient, improving safety for travelers and boosting connections between Wisconsin and Iowa’s rural communities.
• Local businesses and civic leaders are urging residents to plan ahead for longer detours during the multi-year construction window.
• The Iowa DOT is coordinating with the Wisconsin DOT to provide frequent updates and potential alternative routes.

Originally reported by Evan Casey in WPR.