In this press release, Iowa DOT and WisDOT share some very welcome news.
LANSING, Iowa – Sept. 3, 2026
– The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and Wisconsin
Department of Transportation (WisDOT) are announcing that the Iowa 9 / WIS 82
Mississippi River Crossing at Lansing is proceeding well ahead of the original
timeline. The agencies expect to open the bridge to traffic in early November
2026, instead of the initial planned opening in spring 2027.
“This is incredible news for
Lansing, its neighboring communities in Wisconsin, and everyone who lives and
works in the region,” noted Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. “I commend Iowa DOT and
their colleagues at WisDOT along with all the consultants and contractors –
most notably Kraemer North America – for their outstanding teamwork on this
critical project. What a wonderful gift, and just in time for the holiday
season and winter travel.”
The Mississippi River Crossing
project has been proceeding since late 2023. The prior bridge was closed
permanently in late 2025 and demolished in December 2025. Project staff
credited the early opening plans to the concentrated work of the contractors and
subcontractors, which has also been aided by favorable weather and river
conditions.
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| Lansing Bridge |
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| Lansing Bridge deck |
Since November 2025, Iowa DOT and
WisDOT have provided a free car ferry service through two different operators.
In all, the ferry service has carried almost 131,000 vehicles over the river
through the end of August 2026.
Motorists who cannot or choose
not to use the ferry have used a marked detour route on the U.S. 18 bridge
connecting Marquette, Iowa, and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, about 30 miles
south of the crossing at Lansing.
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| Photo of car ferry at Lansing Bridge |
The exact bridge opening date
will not be established for several weeks as construction continues. Even after
the bridge opens to traffic, there will be additional work to be completed
outside of the main traffic lanes. When the bridge opens to traffic, the car
ferry service will be discontinued, and the project will restore the ferry
landing areas. Iowa DOT and WisDOT will work closely with the contractors and
the local communities to pinpoint the exact opening.
For more information on the
construction of the new Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing, go to iowadot.gov/lansingbridge and
sign up to receive updates directly to your inbox or check out our 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.
It’s easy to subscribe to Your
511 and sign up to receive email/text alerts. Visit https://new.511ia.org/#login to
sign up. For instructions and help with this feature, visit https://511ia.org/help/section/how-to-create-and-manage-a-511-account.html.
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For questions about this news
release, please contact Clayton Burke at 515-290-2376 or clayton.burke@iowadot.us.
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