The information concerning the C Reiss Coal Dock has been moved to here.
The information concerning the BNSF/NP Grassy Point Bridge has been moved to here.
The date of 1985 that is in a lot of sources seems to be a copy of a typo in a Duluth News Tribune article. I'm going with the Oct 25, 2984 date. [Search for the comment by "Eric Holst" below.]
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| Theresa Kautz posted Cason J. Callaway, passing under the Bong Bridge on her way to the C. Reiss Dock in West Duluth. 6.17.19 Photo By: Theresa Kautz |
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| John Weeks "The Richard I. Bong Bridge is the longest bridge with at least one end touching the State of Minnesota. In Wisconsin, the Daniel Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee is longer, which makes the Bong Bridge be the second longest bridge with at least one end landing in Wisconsin....With approaches, the total elevated span is approximately 11,800 feet." |
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| John Weeks "The Bong Bridge is named after WWII hero Richard Ira Bong. Bong lived in nearby Poplar, Wisconsin. He flew the P-38 Lightning fighter plane in the Pacific Theater. He was allowed to retire from combat flying when he broke the record of 26 kills. He later found his way back in combat, and was again pulled from the combat theater after his 40th kill. The military was afraid that Bong was becoming a target, and they didn't want to risk losing their Ace of Aces. Bong relocated to southern California to begin training on jet aircraft. Bong died on August 6, 1945, when his P-80 Shooting Star jet fighter crashed. Some people find it ironic that while Bong fought against the Japanese, and there was a major steel mill located within sight distance of the Bong Bridge, the steel for the arch span of Bong's namesake bridge was imported from Japan." |
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| David Schauer posted No Name... Quite possibly the consist of the year backs toward their limestone train at No Name Creek in West Duluth this afternoon. Duluth, MN - October 25, 2024 Dennis DeBruler: This is the best photo I have seen for capturing the length of the Bong Bridge. |
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| NewsTribuneAttic [This is the first time I've seen a tied arch built in place. Generally, I've seen them built offshore and then floated into place. But I wonder if this one would have been built in place even now because it is 120' up in the air. And it appears the St. Louis River is wide and shallow here. So the falsework piers would be relatively cheap. Unfortunately, the traffic that motivated this bridge in the 1960s dried up soon after this bridge was built because the industries disappeared. [John Weeks]] Bridges Now and Then posted The Bong Bridge under construction between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, 1982. (News Tribune file photo) James Torgeson: [Richard Bong was] the top US ace from WW2, with 40 kills! There's a great museum in Superior that celebrates his life, and it includes a P-38. He was from nearby Poplar, WI. James Simms: James Torgeson He & Tommy McGuire (McGuire AFB) were neck & neck competing until McGuire was KIA January 1945. Richard Bong was to have an AFB named for him, but construction had barely started when it was cancelled. It’s now a Nature Preserve. |
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The smoke stack in the middle background is the Hibbard Renewable Energy Center. The steam to the left of the arch is coming from a paper mill. It is good to see a paper mill that is still operating. |
I like this view of the bridge.
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| David Schauer posted The James R. Barker has been at the SMET/MERC coal dock in Superior for an extended period with its bow raised, similar to its status when at the port terminal a few days ago. This was from yesterday and when I drove past this morning her bow was still riding high but the shiploader was in a lowered position but not loading. Gus image. 1/2/2022 John West: Bow thruster issues. [They are in a race to fix the thruster because the Soo Locks close Jan 15.] |
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| David Schauer posted There is so much to see in this aerial of the Superior-Duluth harbor. My guess is 1983 given the Bong Bridge is under construction (opened in Oct 1984) and CRH cement silo (opened in 1983). A saltie is loading at Elevator M in the lower left while the elevator on the adjacent dock is being torn down. Lots of older lakers still occupying various slips before being scrapped. Enjoy this Friday Basgen flashback. Basgen Photography Dave Mikelson: I'd say 1983. Barker's Island Inn is open but not Bong bridge (opened in 1984) still has a way to go. David Schauer: Dave Mikelson I read the Bong opened in 1985? Eric Holst: Dave Mikelson I think you're right about 1984. There are two dates published by the Duluth News Tribune about the opening of the Bong Bridge - October 25th, 1984 and October 25th, 1985. My gut says that 1984 is the correct date, and that 1985 is a typo from a more recent article that got propagated to wikipedia and other sources. This is a good history page from the DNT: https://newstribuneattic.wordpress.com/.../a-history-of.../ |
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| Chris Mazzella posted Michigan Trader/Dirk Vanenkevort passing through the Grass Point Bridge after unloading stone at the Reiss Coal Dock in West Duluth. |
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| Digitally Zoomed |
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| David Schauer commented on Dave's comment I'm going to change it to 1983 based on this shot I made in March 1983. Fits the progress on the Bong. |
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| NewsTribuneAttic Bong Bridge under construction between Duluth and Superior, 1982 (News Tribune file photo) "The Bong Bridge extends about 8,395 feet from one side of the St. Louis River to the other — 425 feet longer than the Blatnik Bridge. It’s about 11,800 feet long when approaches are included; in comparison, the Golden Gate Bridge is 8,981 feet long, approaches included. The Bong Bridge gives a clearance of about 120 feet for ships passing beneath the center span....As of 2013, the bridge was seeing an average of about 15,000 vehicles a day." |
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