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
La Crosse ( ) is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population was 52,680 as of the 202 ...
to Barron Island, crossing the east channel of the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
. Another bridge, the
La Crosse West Channel Bridge connects Barron Island to
La Crescent, Minnesota
La Crescent ( ) is a city in Houston and Winona counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 5,276 at the 2020 census.
La Crescent is located in the northeast portion of Houston County; the northern edge of the city falls into ...
. 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.
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.
The bridges original concrete deck was replaced by a metal deck in 1983.
In 2004, a new tied arch bridge opened, at this point, the original bridges deck was rehabilitated and both bridges were reopened concurrently in 2005.
Gallery
See also
*
List of crossings of the Upper Mississippi River
This is a list of all current and notable former bridges or other crossings of the Upper Mississippi River, Upper Mississippi River which begins at the Mississippi River's source and extends to its confluence with the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinoi ...
References
External links
Mississippi River Bridge
{{Crossings navbox
, structure = Crossings
, place =
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
, bridge = Mississippi River Bridge
, bridge signs =
, upstream =
La Crosse Rail Bridge
, upstream signs = ''Canadian Pacific Railway''
, downstream =
Black Hawk Bridge
, downstream signs =
Bridges over the Mississippi River
Bridges completed in 1939
Bridges completed in 2004
U.S. Route 61
Tied arch bridges in the United States
U.S. Route 14
Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System
Cantilever bridges in the United States
Truss bridges in the United States
Bridges in Wisconsin
1939 establishments in Minnesota
1939 establishments in Wisconsin
Interstate vehicle bridges in the United States