LANSING — A major new Mississippi River bridge connecting Iowa and Wisconsin is running well ahead of schedule and is now expected to open to traffic in early November, months earlier than originally planned.
The Iowa Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that the new Iowa 9/WIS 82 Mississippi River crossing at Lansing is progressing quickly enough to open before winter.
The bridge had originally been scheduled to open in spring 2027.
Construction on the massive crossing has been underway since late 2023. The previous Lansing bridge was permanently closed in late 2025 and demolished in December, leaving motorists dependent on a temporary ferry or a lengthy detour.
State transportation officials credited contractors and subcontractors, along with favorable weather and Mississippi River conditions, for allowing construction to advance ahead of schedule.
Nearly 131,000 vehicles have used temporary ferry
The loss of the old bridge created a major transportation headache for people traveling between northeast Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin.
Since November 2025, Iowa and Wisconsin transportation officials have provided free car ferry service across the Mississippi River using two different operators.
Nearly 131,000 vehicles had crossed the river aboard the ferry through the end of August.
Motorists unable or unwilling to use the ferry have been directed south to the U.S. 18 bridge connecting Marquette, Iowa, and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin — about 30 miles south of Lansing.
The temporary ferry will continue operating until the new bridge opens.
Once traffic begins using the new crossing, ferry service will end and crews will begin restoring the temporary ferry landing areas.
Exact opening date still to come
Transportation officials have not yet established an exact November opening date.
Construction will continue over the coming weeks, and Iowa DOT and WisDOT said they will work with contractors and the surrounding communities before announcing the precise date.
Some construction will also continue after vehicles begin crossing the bridge, although that work is expected to take place outside the main traffic lanes.
The early opening means one of northeast Iowa’s most important transportation connections should be restored before the holiday travel season and winter weather arrive.
The Lansing crossing carries Iowa Highway 9 across the Mississippi River into Wisconsin, where the route becomes Wisconsin Highway 82.
Major bridge work underway across Iowa
The Lansing project is one of several significant bridge projects moving forward around Iowa.
Earlier this summer, NIT reported that Iowa City secured $23.5 million for replacement of the Burlington Street bridges over the Iowa River as part of a project expected to cost about $57 million.
Closer to North Iowa, counties have also been investing heavily in bridge replacement, inspections and weight restrictions as aging structures require attention.
NIT recently reported on several Floyd County bridge and secondary-road projects, including plans for replacement work and improvements on county roads.
For Lansing-area residents and travelers, however, the announcement means the end of months of ferry crossings and detours is finally in sight.
If construction continues on its current pace, traffic should be rolling across the new Mississippi River bridge in early November.
(PHOTOS via Iowa DOT.)