Ferry and River Traffic to Close for Lansing Bridge Center Span Installation on June 11th and 12th

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Iowa 9 / WIS 82 Mississippi River Bridge Update – Ferry and River Traffic to Close for Center Span Installation on June 11 and 12

LANSING, Iowa – June 5, 2026 – The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) are announcing a key milestone in the Iowa 9 / WIS 82 Mississippi River Bridge Project. The center span of the new bridge will be installed on June 11 and 12 in a process that includes floating the pre-assembled section down the river to be connected to sections being built in place. The project will need to close the free car ferry and restrict other traffic on the Mississippi River on June 11 and 12, 2026.

The Mississippi River bridge project has been proceeding since late 2023 with the new bridge extending from both the western Iowa shore and the eastern Wisconsin approach. The prior bridge was demolished in December of 2025. The center span is being assembled just upstream near the Lansing Marina. By assembling the span off site, the project was able to keep the river channel open at most times and allow the car ferry service to operate. Off-site assembly also reduced costs and improved schedule efficiency.

On the morning of June 11, the center span will take its short trip downstream by barge until it aligns with the new sections. It will then be lifted into place and connected to the existing east and west assemblies. The entire process is expected to take several hours. The channel will remain closed on June 11 and 12 to fully connect and inspect the span. The project will continue in future weeks and months with additional construction on the bridge superstructure, deck and other features. The new bridge is expected to open to traffic in 2027.

The Iowa DOT will display a livestream of the process at iowadot.gov/lansingbridge. The livestream is video only and does not carry audio.

Following are details of the activity on June 11 and 12 as it impacts the car ferry and other traffic on the Mississippi River.

The free car ferry will operate on June 10 through normal hours. The car ferry will not operate on June 11 and 12 and will resume on June 13 at normal hours. See https://iowadot.gov/lansingcarferry for car ferry service details.
The project team is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard to restrict all commercial and recreational boat traffic on the Mississippi River around the project site on June 11 and 12. Recreational boat traffic from the Lansing Marina will be allowed to travel north on the river on June 11 after the center span barge has cleared the area. Boat traffic from the Big Slough Landing and other landings on the Wisconsin side will not be able to use the main channel under or around the bridge project.
The contractor will enforce a restricted area on the Mississippi River to both the north and south of the bridge.
There are no planned highway or street closures. The ferry landings on both the Iowa and Wisconsin sides will be closed to vehicles. There are no anticipated impacts to adjacent property owners.
With the ferry closure, motorists should follow the marked detour routes with the closest bridges at US 18 between McGregor, Iowa, and Prairie du Chien, Wis.; or at U.S. 14 between La Crescent, Minn., and La Crosse, Wis.
If weather or other circumstances delay the center span installation, the alternate dates are set for June 18 and 19.

For more information on the construction of the new Mississippi River Bridge as well as updates on the existing bridge status, go to iowadot.gov/lansingbridge. Individuals may also sign up to receive e-mail updates and view the Facebook page www.facebook.com/LansingBridge/. Information on the ferry is available at https://iowadot.gov/lansingcarferry.

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/travel-tools/iowa-511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.