Julien Dubuque Bridge Repair Project

The $10.7 million maintenance and rehabilitation project on the U.S. 20/Julien Dubuque Bridge over the Mississippi River is nearing its final stages. While the bridge has reopened to normal traffic, intermittent lane closures remain as crews wrap up the final details.

CAUSES FOR DELAY

The project, which initially required full closures of the bridge, was delayed due to:

• Weather Conditions: Inclement weather impacted the construction schedule.
• Unforeseen Site Conditions: Unknown factors discovered during the repair process required additional time to address.
• Lighting Issues: Final reopening phases were briefly postponed to resolve lighting problems on the structure.

SCOPE OF WORK

The comprehensive conservation effort for the bridge included:

• Structural Repairs: Maintenance on the steel superstructure and repairing bridge deck joints.
• Painting: Extensive painting of the girders, approach sections, and the central truss.
• Surface Sealing: Applying protective concrete sealers to the bridge deck and railings.
• Pedestrian Safety: Replacing the handrail along the adjacent pedestrian walkway.

CURRENT STATUS AND COMPLETION

The bridge is currently open to normal traffic, though drivers should expect intermittent eastbound lane closures on weekdays through late September 2026. These closures will occur during active work hours, with the lane reopening for the evening commute and on non-working days. All work is expected to be fully completed by Tuesday of next week.