The search for a man who fell into the Mississippi River at East Dubuque was suspended Monday afternoon as crowds were expected to arrive for an evening fireworks display.
The search stretches for more than 30 miles south to Bellevue, Iowa and even beyond.
The search for his body has stopped for the night and will resume Tuesday morning.
East Dubuque Fire Chief Joe Heim said the Mississippi River at Dubuque, between the Julien Dubuque Bridge (Highway 20) and the railroad bridge re-opened at 4 p.m. Monday.
In a press briefing Monday afternoon, Heim said authorities now know the bridge operator, who swings the bridge open or closed for train or boat traffic, fell into the river at approximately 3:40 am. Heim says security video from the Canadian National Railroad bridge shows the man's actual fall into the river, and says it is believed to have been an accident.
Kevin Turner, Jo Daviess County Sheriff, tells KCRG TV Channel 9 that as many as 50 people may be involved in river search operations.
Turner said responders switched to a recovery mode in mid morning with boats using grappling hooks to scour the river bottom for the body.
Turner says unless the body is hooked on something, it could have drifted for miles due to high water and a swift current.
Searchers left the river at 4:00 p.m. due to the large crowds expected for the Dubuque Fireworks & Air Show Spectacular.
The search will resume at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Authorities have not identified the missing man because family members are still being notified.