The Black Hawk Bridge’s replacement in Lansing is now expected to open in “early November,” rather than in 2027, according to a press release from the Iowa DOT.
The press release uses the phrase “Mississippi River Crossing at Lansing” instead of any other title. This makes me wonder if a new name has not been agreed upon.
Chief Black Hawk has extensive connections to Iowa and Wisconsin history, especially in that area, where the Black Hawk War was fought. There is no reason not to name the new structure “the new Black Hawk Bridge,” and it would provide continuity in the same way the construction evokes the original design.
The dedication of the original bridge in 1931 was a four-day festival. An article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on Monday quoted Lansing Mayor Michael Verdon as saying there will be “a relatively small celebration” in November, and “When the bridge is finally completed in the spring we will have a big celebration.”
Either way, I really need the date(s) ASAP, if I have any chance of attending.