Project Challenge: Steel Span Lifted in Place on $140M Mississippi River Bridge Project
The reconstruction of the Lansing Bridge between Iowa and Wisconsin reached a key milestone on June 12, as the new structure’s 220-ft-long center span was hoisted into place. The day-long operation brings the $140-million project a step closer to restoring the sole crossing along a largely rural 70-mile stretch of the Mississippi River.
Weighing approximately 1.8 million lb the steel span was assembled on two 55×120-ft deck barges approximately 1,500 ft upstream from the bridge site, where Kraemer North America has been at work since October 2023 to replace the original 1930s structure that was demolished late last year after being deemed too unstable to safely remain in service until its new, wider 1,724-ft-long successor was complete. Though the removal inconvenienced area motorists, it freed Kraemer to proceed virtually uninterrupted with driving piles for the new bridge’s concrete piers, and erect steel spans from both sides of the river.
After being floated into position with the aid of a tugboat, the span was readied for it 64-ft vertical lift above the Mississippi River’s main navigation channel using a strand jack system provided by Structural Technologies. The system consisted of four sets of 22 0.6-in, 270-ksi post-tensioning strands, with each set driven by a 330-ton hydraulic jack.
The lift process lasted approximately 12 hours, says Iowa Dept. of Transportation project manager Clayton Burke, due to generator issues that required replacement with backup units.
“There were several bolts that needed to be removed and replaced with flush pins to allow the center section to slide into place,” Burke adds. “Kraemer did an excellent job engineering the solution and working with the whole team to implement it safely.”
The protracted lift process didn’t deter dozens of recreational boaters who took advantage of the sunny summer weather to enjoy a day on the water while watching construction activity. The Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ensured waterborne sightseers stayed a safe distance away.
“The months of planning and preparation were worth it,” says Burke, “as the lift was completed successfully with only a few minor obstacles that were overcome.”
Scheduled for completion by spring 2027, the replacement project’s remaining tasks include connecting the final steel truss members, pouring the concrete bridge deck, completion of roadway reconstruction work, installation of railing and lighting and painting. This winter, the last three piers remaining from the original bridge will be demolished, while dolphins, dock walls and revetments will be removed.
Federal funding is covering approximately 80 percent of the project cost, with the balance evenly split between the states of Iowa and Wisconsin.
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