| Leo Frigo Bridge | |
|---|---|
The Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge |
|
| Official name | Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge |
| Carries | 4 lanes of I-43 |
| Crosses | Fox River |
| Locale | Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Maintained by | Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) |
| Design | Tied-arch bridge |
| Total length | 1.51 mi (2,430.1 m) |
| Width | 80.1 ft (24.4 m)[1] |
| Height | 203 ft (61.9 m) |
| Longest span | 450.2 ft (137.2 m) |
| Clearance below | 120 ft (36.6 m) |
| Opened | 1981 |
| Daily traffic | 34900 (in 2006)[2] |
The Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge (formerly Tower Drive Bridge) is a bridge on the north side of Green Bay, Wisconsin which brings Interstate 43 over the Fox River just south of its mouth into Green Bay. It was named "in recognition and appreciation of Leo Frigo,[3] a civic and philanthropic leader in the Green Bay area whose legacy includes one the largest food pantry programs [Paul's Pantry] in the nation for feeding the hungry."[4] The bridge opened to traffic in 1981.[5] Because of the bridge's height, it is prone to being shut down during periods of high wind warnings and blizzards.
Since the structure is the highest and most high-profile bridge in the Green Bay area, it has been the scene of many suicide attempts. Probably the most famous was on July 19, 2004, when a woman, Tina Zahn, was saved by a Wisconsin State Trooper, Les Boldt, who managed to catch her before she fell to her death. It was captured on film [6] by the police car's dashboard video camera. Boldt was assisted by Brown County Sheriff's Department Sergeant Bill Morgan, and Deputy Kevin Kinnard. Boldt and Zahn were 'reunited' on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She has since written a book, Why I Jumped, on her experiences.[7] The bridge now contains several signs with links to a suicide hotline, and debate has ensued regarding placing chain link fencing on the bridge itself to deter future attempts.