Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge
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| Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge from the Duluth, Minnesota hillside looking southeast toward Superior, Wisconsin. |
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| Carries | 4 lanes of U.S. 2 |
| Crosses | Saint Louis Bay |
| Locale | Duluth, MN and Superior, WI |
| Design | Deck arch bridge |
| Total length | 11,800 ft (3,600 m) |
| Opening date | October 25, 1985 |
| Coordinates | 46°43′53″N 92°08′38″W / 46.73142°N -92.14376°ECoordinates: 46°43′53″N 92°08′38″W / 46.73142°N -92.14376°E |
The Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge, also known as the Bong Bridge, connects Duluth, Minnesota with Superior, Wisconsin via U.S. Highway 2. Opened on October 25, 1985, it is roughly 11,800 feet (3,600 meters) long. About 8,300 feet (2,500 meters) of that length is actually over water. It crosses over the Saint Louis Bay that drains into Lake Superior. The bridge’s namesake, Richard Ira Bong, was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was named the United States' all time "Ace of Aces". The bridge was originally to be named the Arrowhead Bridge after the old wood trestle-bascule bridge which it replaced in 1985.
The bridge's central suspension section is made of Japanese steel. Ironically, not only did Richard Bong fly against the Japanese, but iron ore mining has been a key industry in the area (see Mesabi Iron Range).
The bridge is also noted for a major sixteen vehicle pile-up that occurred on January 27th, 2005 in which a newborn baby was killed and 10 people were hospitalized.
The bridge is one of the largest public works projects ever undertaken by the state of Wisconsin. Ayres Associates, an architectural/engineering company based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, designed the 1.5-mile length of approach bridges and was responsible for overall project management. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation designed the channel span (tied arch).
In 2007, the Bong Bridge won a Wonders of Wisconsin Engineering Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies, Wisconsin Chapter. The award program was held in recognition of the chapter's 50th anniversary.
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