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 US 2 |
| Crosses | Saint Louis River |
| Locale | Duluth, MN and Superior, WI |
| Design | Deck arch bridge |
| Total length | 11,800 ft (3,600 m) |
| Opening date | October 25, 1985 |
| Maps and aerial photos | |
The Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge (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 River that drains into Lake Superior. The bridge’s namesake, Richard 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'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 16 vehicle pile-up that occurred on January 27th, 2005 in which a newborn baby was killed and 10 people were hospitalized.
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