History of the Black Hawk Bridge
The iconic bridge that carries travelers across the Mississippi River from Lansing, Iowa, to rural Crawford County, Wisconsin, has a history full of pride and more than a little intrigue. Here are some of the highlights.
1898
- Local tradition dates the concept of the bridge back to 1898 and is attributed to two gentlemen named J.P. Conway and Tom Bakewell.
1916
- Initially, the effort was organized under the Interstate Bridge Company in 1916.
- The name later changed to the Lansing Bridge Company, and ultimately the organization would become the Iowa-Wisconsin Bridge Company.
1928
- Stock in the Iowa-Wisconsin Bridge Company goes on sale to fund the project.
1929
- The foundational work for the bridge was started.
1930
- The bridge design changes from a suspension bridge to a cantilevered through truss design.
1931
- The bridge opens as a toll bridge with a asphalt covered wooden plank deck.
1930-1940
- Ownership of the bridge is contested, and financial difficulties are noted.
1939
- “Major repairs” are done to the bridge.
1945
- In March, the Fern, an ice cutter on a mission for the military, creates an ice dam that causes slough bridge damage that cannot be repaired by the Iowa-Wisconsin Bridge Company.
- Slough bridges were closed until repairs can be made.
1948
- Repair costs are estimated at $600,000, and estimates for a bridge replacement come in at $2M.
- Talks begin for the states of Iowa and Wisconsin to take over ownership of the bridge.
1953-1956
- The bridge remains closed as major changes are made to strengthen and re-deck the bridge.
1957
- Under the ownership of the states of Iowa and Wisconsin, the bridge is reopened without a toll.
1978
- There are numerous documented and undocumented strikes to the bridge piers and abutments across its history, but this one was significant. On Aug. 31 at 3 a.m. the Ed Renshaw grain barge strikes the bridge. Nine of its 15 barges block the river channel.
1990s
- The bridge is maintained with various rehabilitation and repair projects.
- In 1993, the first bridge protection cell, commonly known as a Dolphin, was constructed upstream of the bridge. The second Dolphin was placed in 2011.
2003-2004
- Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation begin to assess the crossing for improvements.
2004
- A feasibility study is begun in December to determine next steps for the bridge.
2017
- The first public meeting is held to discuss improvements to the bridge.
2019
- The bridge is evaluated for possible rehabilitation.
2021
- The preferred option of replacing the bridge is discussed at a public meeting in June.
2023
- The project to replace the bridge goes out for bids in August.
- Initial work on the replacement bridge is set to begin in September.