Black Hawk Bridge to open in November ahead of schedule

The new Black Hawk Bridge, a $140 million project connecting Wisconsin and Iowa across the Mississippi River, is scheduled to open to traffic on November 6. This opening comes months ahead of the original spring 2027 estimate.

The 1,724-foot concrete deck replacement bridge will carry Iowa Highway 9 and Wisconsin Highway 82 between Lansing, Iowa, and Crawford County, Wisconsin. The new structure is wider than the nearly century-old bridge it replaces, which was demolished following its closure in October 2025.

With the bridge opening, the free Mississippi River car ferry that previously transported approximately 555 vehicles per day during the summer will end its service on November 6. Officials credited the early completion to favorable weather, river conditions, and the performance of the general contractor, Kraemer North America.