DE SOTO, Wis. (WLCX) – The Lansing Bridge, which connects Crawford County in Wisconsin to Lansing, Iowa, was re-opened at 11 a.m. on April 20 after nearly two months of being closed for emergency repairs.
The 93-year-old bridge had to have two new piers set and bridge decking replaced after construction on its replacement shifted part of the bridge in late February.
The Iowa Department of Transportation said that the bridge passed inspection, allowing it to be reopened. Initially, DOT officials had estimated that the bridge would be closed until the end of April.
In a release, DOT officials said that that the new piers have steel pipe pilings driven more than 100 feet into bedrock. This replaces the near-century existing ones that only went down about 40 feet.
An estimated 2,200 vehicles used the bridge daily, according to Wisconsin and Iowa politicians in a letter seeking federal funding to repair the bridge. The closure meant motorists have to drive over an hour out of the way to cross the Mississippi by traveling north to La Crosse, Wis. or La Crescent, Minn., or south to Prairie du Chien, Wis. or Marquette, Iowa.
A free water taxi service was used during the closure to help people cross without needing to take the lengthy detour. That service is now ended with the reopening of the bridge.
The Lansing Bridge, also known as the Black Hawk Bridge in Wisconsin, had been closed since Feb. 25. The current bridge was constructed in 1931. The new bridge will cost $140 million, with about 80% coming from federal funding and the rest split between Wisconsin and Iowa. Work began last fall on the new bridge.
More Articles
New legislative districts in NW Wisconsin give Dems a better chance in 2024, experts say
5/17/2024 | Hina Suzuki / The Badger Project
A Tyrannosaurus Rex took a big blue bite out of the 73rd Assembly District in Douglas County and spit it into the neighboring district. That’s how some commenters described the change to the 73rd after Republicans redrew it before the 2022 election. The GOP swapped those bluer areas with rural, Republican-leaning parts of Burnett County […]
New, compacted political maps in Marathon County boot long-time legislator from old district
5/17/2024 | Hina Suzuki / The Badger Project
The new maps separated the towns of Schofield and Rothschild from the new 85th District and put them into the 87th.
Oldest UWM Honors College Graduate
5/17/2024
A former Richland Center resident has found herself in a prestigious minority. JoAnne Potter, 72 of Milwaukee, is graduating with a bachelor’s degree at UW-Milwaukee. After living in Richland Center for more than 20 years, JoAnne moved back to Milwaukee in 2020. After getting settled, in 2022 she decided to go back to college to […]
8th Congressional District to have 2 elections on fall ballots
5/17/2024 | Lisa M. Hale
Two elections for the 8th Congressional District will be on the same ballot and the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) is trying to find a way to explain the elections to avoid voter confusion.
Pianos + Art + Music equals Keys to the City
5/17/2024 | Lisa M. Hale
This weekend a unique live art and music festival will take to public locations throughout the Green Bay community. The Keys to the City Painted Piano Festival features music from local artists, donated pianos, live art by area artists, and culminates in the unveiling of five new, interactive art installations throughout the city.
