Julien Dubuque Bridge to Close for Inspection: What to Know

A major Tri-State bridge, which connects Dubuque, IA to East Dubuque, IL, will be undergoing inspection in the early part of February. It's expected to last two days with the eastbound lanes of the bridge being closed for a significant portion of each day.

It should be known that this inspection is not the major closure the Julien Dubuque Bridge faces later this year. Details of that are still forthcoming, but the entire Julien Dubuque Bridge will be closed for a portion of the 2026 construction season in order for deck joint repairs, painting of the steel structure, resealing of the bride deck, and more.

READ MORE: Iowa's Julien Dubuque Bridge to Close in 2026

A Portion of the Julien Dubuque Bridge Will Close in February:

Per a press release from the City of Dubuque, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will perform inspections on the Julien Dubuque Bridge on Tuesday, February 10th and February 11th. This will result in the eastbound lanes of the bridge being closed from 6am to 3pm each day.

If you commute to work via the Julien Dubuque Bridge, you might want to start planning an alternate route for the early-part of the next. Eastbound traffic on U.S. Highway 20 will be detoured around the closure using U.S. Highways 61/151, and state highways 11 and 35 in Wisconsin and Illinois, per the press release.

How This Closure is Related to the Upcoming Rehabilitation Project:

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This two-day inspection sets the table for the aforementioned rehabilitation project, which is expected to begin in late May/early June. Once work begins, officials anticipate a full closure of the bridge for about one month; an eastbound detour could last up to three months.

Anyone with questions or concerns regarding the February closure of the Julien Dubuque Bridge can contact Hugh Holak, resident construction engineer with the Iowa DOT, by calling 563-927-2397 or via email at hugh.holak@iowadot.us.