The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), together with the Iowa Department of Transportation, are announcing a key milestone in the IA 9 / WIS 82 Mississippi River Bridge project. The center span of the new bridge will be installed on Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 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.

On the morning of Thursday, June 11, the center span will travel 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 Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 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 event at iowadot.gov/lansingbridge. People are encouraged to watch the livestream as a safe and comfortable option.

Below are details of the center span installation and associated impacts to the car ferry and other vessels on the Mississippi River.

  • The free car ferry will operate on Wednesday, June 10 through normal hours. The car ferry will not operate on Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12, and will resume on Saturday, June 13 at normal hours. See iowadot.gov/lansingcarferry for car ferry service details.
  • The project team is coordinating with the US Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers to restrict all commercial and recreational boat traffic on the Mississippi River around the project site on Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12. Recreational boat traffic from the Lansing Marina will be allowed to travel north on the river on Thursday, 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 should be able to traverse the sloughs but 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, Wisconsin; or at US 14 between La Crescent, Minnesota, and La Crosse, Wisconsin.
  • If weather or other circumstances delay the center span installation, the alternate date is set for June 18 and June 19.

The Mississippi River Bridge project has been proceeding since late 2024 with the new bridge extending from both the western Iowa shore and the eastern Wisconsin approach. The prior bridge was demolished in December 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 keep the car ferry service in operation.

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 email updates and view the Facebook page at facebook.com/LansingBridge/. Full information on the ferry is available at 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/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.