Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Leo Frigo Bridge
Official Name:Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge
Crosses:Fox River
Carries:4 lanes of
Locale:Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Downstream:Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge
Design:Tied-arch bridge
Mainspan:450.21NaN1
Length:1.511NaN1
Width:80.11NaN1[1]
Height:2031NaN1
Below:1201NaN1
Open:1981
Closed:September 25, 2013 - January 5, 2014 (temporary)
Maint:Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)
Coordinates:44.5334°N -88.0078°W
Traffic:34900 (in 2006)[2]

The Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge is a bridge on the north side of Green Bay, Wisconsin. It carries Interstate 43 over the Fox River just south of its mouth into Green Bay. Formerly known as the Tower Drive Bridge, it was renamed in 2002 "in recognition and appreciation of Leo Frigo,[3] a civic and philanthropic leader in the Green Bay area.[4] The bridge opened to traffic in 1981.[5] Because of the bridge's height and slope, it is prone to being shut down during inclement weather. The bridge carries roughly 40,000 vehicles per day as of 2015.[6]

Suicides

As the highest bridge in the Green Bay area, it has been the scene of a number of suicide attempts. On July 19, 2004, a woman was saved by a Wisconsin state trooper, who caught her before she fell to her death.[7] The woman and the state trooper were reunited on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She has since written a book, Why I Jumped, on her experiences.[8] Signs have also been added to the bridge, containing the phone number for a local crisis hotline, with a suicide barrier under consideration as early as 2005, but not yet implemented going into the 2020s.[9]

Sagging

On September 24, 2013, the bridge was closed after a 400feet stretch of the bridge sagged.[10] One pier's footings had settled 2feet.[11] The pilings, the pier, and surrounding piers had experienced significant corrosion because of the composition of the surrounding soil. The corrosion caused the pilings to buckle, leading to the sag. After the incident, the pier and the bridge were repaired and further fitted with sensors, which have not detected any further movement in the bridge.[12] On January 5, 2014 the bridge was re-opened to traffic. The total cost of repairs was $8.45 million.[13]

Notes

  1. Web site: Fox River Bridge (Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge) . Bridgehunter.com . August 21, 2011.
  2. Web site: Archived copy . August 26, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100602043257/http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/travel/counts/docs/brown/greenbay2006pt1.pdf . June 2, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
  3. http://www.paulspantry.org/our-founder Paul's Pantry > Our Founder
  4. Web site: May 8, 2002 . Official act to rename bridge . November 28, 2023.
  5. Web site: Christopher J. . Bessert . Highways 40-49 . Wisconsin Highways . Self-published . August 21, 2011.
  6. News: Schneider. Doug. DOT gives Leo Frigo bridge another clean bill of health. Green Bay Press Gazette. 6 May 2015.
  7. Web site: Wisconsin Troopers Association: Home Page . Wi-troopers.org . August 21, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150610195604/http://www.wi-troopers.org/HeroicAction.mpg . June 10, 2015 .
  8. Book: Zahn, Tina . Why I Jumped : A True Story of Postpartum Depression, Dramatic Rescue, and Return to Hope . Whyijumped.com . August 21, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718043949/http://www.whyijumped.com/ . July 18, 2011 .
  9. Web site: Discouraging Suicide Leaps from Bridges. Shockley. Christina. 15 July 2005. All Things Considered. NPR, WUWM. 6 October 2020.
  10. News: Long, deep pavement dip closes Leo Frigo bridge for at least 2 days. Phelps. Nathan. September 25, 2013 . Green Bay Press-Gazette. September 25, 2013.
  11. News: Leo Frigo Bridge Closed Indefinitely Due to Large Dip. Staff report. September 25, 2013. Green Bay, WI. WBAY-TV. September 25, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927131950/http://www.wbay.com/story/23522780/2013/09/25/update-5-leo-frigo-bridge-closed-for-large-dip-in-pavement. September 27, 2013. dead. mdy-all.
  12. News: DOT: Corrosion caused dip in Leo Frigo Bridge. September 25, 2013. Green Bay, WI. WLUK-TV. October 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221127/http://www.fox11online.com/news/local/green-bay/dot-corrosion-caused-dip-in-leo-frigo-bridge. October 4, 2013. dead. mdy-all.
  13. News: Schneider. Doug. DOT gives Leo Frigo bridge another clean bill of health. Green Bay Press Gazette . 6 May 2015.

44.5334°N -88.0078°W