Work To Begin On Mississippi River Bridge At Lansing

Maintenance work on the Iowa Highway 9 bridge that crosses the Mississippi River near Lansing will cause some traffic delays this week.

Crews are scheduled to begin a bridge-washing project on the lower sections of the structure that links Iowa and Wisconsin, starting Tuesday (May 24, 2016).

According to officials at the Iowa Department of Transportation's New Hampton construction office, the project is expected to last three days and will require daytime lane closures.

Flaggers will be used to control traffic, when the lanes are closed. A 9-foot width lane restriction will be in place in the open lane.

The bridge-washing project will remove salt residue and debris that can accumulate on the bridge. Not removing the salt residue and debris will cause corrosion of the steel members of the bridge, IDOT officials said.

The project is scheduled to be completed on Thursday, weather permitting.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

In Iowa, traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones.

The latest traveler information is available anytime by calling 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide) or by visiting www.511ia.org.