Mississippi River Bridge
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Coordinates43°48′33″N 91°15′34″W / 43.80917°N 91.25944°W / 43.80917; -91.25944
Carries4 lanes of US 14 / US 61/ WIS 16
CrossesMississippi River
LocaleLa Crosse, Wisconsin and La Crescent, Minnesota
Other name(s)Cass Street Bridge and Cameron Avenue Bridge The Big Blue Bridges
Characteristics
DesignCantilever bridge (Cass Street)
Tied arch bridge (Cameron Avenue)
Total length2,532 feet (772 m) (Cass Street)
2,573 feet (784 m) (Cameron Avenue)
Width30 feet (9 m) (Cass Street)
50 feet (15 m) (Cameron Avenue)
Longest span475 feet (145 m) (Cameron Avenue)
Clearance below67 feet (20 m) (Cass Street)
68 feet (21 m) (Cameron Avenue)
History
OpenedSeptember 1939 (Cass Street)
November 17, 2004 (Cameron Avenue)[1]
Location

The Mississippi River Bridge is a combination of two individual bridges which are also known as the Cass Street Bridge and the Cameron Avenue Bridge, as well as the Big Blue Bridges. They connect downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin to Barron Island, crossing the east channel of the Mississippi River. Another bridge, the La Crosse West Channel Bridge connects Barron Island to La Crescent, Minnesota. The Mississippi River Bridge carries U.S. Routes 14 and 61 with WI 16. There is another bridge about four miles upstream, the I-90 Mississippi River Bridge that connects North La Crosse, French Island, and Dresbach, Minnesota.[2]

The Cass Street Bridge opened Sept. 23, 1939; replacing the previous Vernon Street swing bridge which was heavily damaged following an automobile accident in 1935.[3][4] The original concrete deck was replaced by a metal deck in 1983; the deck was rehabilitated when the parallel Cameron Avenue Bridge opened in 2005. [3]

La Crosse "Big Blue Bridges" at sunset
Tow boat La Crosse going under blue bridge

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Mississippi River Bridge, La Crosse, WI
  2. ↑ "The Mississippi River Bridge, La Crosse, WI". www.johnweeks.com. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  3. 1 2 "Hometown Icon: Cass Street Bridge". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  4. ↑ "La Crosse Public Library Archives :: 1935 Crash Leads to New Cass Street Bridge". archives.lacrosselibrary.org. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
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