Lansing Bridge construction impacts businesses, residents - EUROPE SAYS
LANSING, Iowa (KCRG) – Construction on a new Mississippi River bridge has cut into business and daily life in Lansing since theold one closed in October 2025. The old Black Hawk Bridge was demolished. . .
LANSING, Iowa (KCRG) – Construction on a new Mississippi River bridge has cut into business and daily life in Lansing since theold one closed in October 2025. The old Black Hawk Bridge was demolished inDecember 2025. The Skinny Dip, an ice cream shop in town, has seen its summer business cut in half since the closure. “I’d say I’m down about 50%,” owner Mike Conway said. “I’m only open on weekends this year due to the closure. And in fact, just because of all this right in front here, the cars lined up. We just don’t have a lot of parking. So we’ve had a lot of somewhat interruption due to that,” he said. Despite the losses, Conway said business has performed better than he expected, and he credits a free car ferry service operating across the river during the closure. “I am very, very fortunate that was provided for us for this closure or else I really think a lot of businesses in town would have closed for good,” Conway said. The Kaas family, who live next to the bridge, said the project has come with challenges but that communication with construction crews has been consistent. “It’s just a mess, honestly. We’ve spoken with the people in charge quite a few times. They’ve been communicating with us really well. We want it to get done so we can move on and have a road back,” Scott Kaas said. Brooke Kaas said the family has mixed feelings about losing the old bridge but is looking forward to the new one. “We loved that old bridge, but, obviously, it needed to come down and we needed something new. So, it’s very exciting for the town that it’s getting closer to being done,” she said. The Kaas family said the free car ferry has become part of their routine, though wait times can stretch up to 45 minutes. “If you luck out, you drive right on. The longest I think we’ve had to wait is maybe 45 minutes, 30, 45 minutes,” Brooke Kaas said. Scott Kaas said the family has found ways to work around the ferry schedule. “Some days we just look off the deck and we see that it’s coming this way. So then we just take off for the landing,” he said. The Iowa DOT said the new bridge is expected to be completed on time in spring 2027. Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved. Tags:americaBlack Hawk Bridgebridge constructionbusinesscar ferryEastern IowaIowalansingLansing BridgeLansing Bridge closureLansing bridge closure businessLansing car ferryMississippi RiverMississippi River bridge LansingNortheastern IowaThe Skinny DipThe Skinny Dip LansingUnited Statesunited states of americaUSUSA