Iowa and Wisconsin Open Mississippi River Bridge Early

The Iowa Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that the new Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing will open to traffic on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 6. The project began in late 2023 and is opening significantly ahead of its original spring 2027 schedule, a result of favorable weather, river conditions, and contracting team efforts.

The previous bridge was closed in late 2025 and demolished on Dec. 19, 2025. To maintain connectivity between the states, the departments operated a free car ferry service starting in November 2025, which averaged 555 vehicles daily during the summer of 2026. This ferry service will terminate on Nov. 6.

While the bridge will be open to traffic, crews will continue work on the removal of old bridge piers and the restoration of ferry landings. Final project completion is expected in late spring 2027, though officials noted that some traffic disruptions are planned for bridge deck work during that period.