Leo Frigo Memorial Bridge
Encyclopedia
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, 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." The bridge opened to traffic in 1981.
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 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. 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.
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
which brings Interstate 43
Interstate 43
Interstate 43 is a intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Wisconsin, connecting Interstate 39 and Interstate 90 in Beloit with Milwaukee and U.S. Route 41 and U.S. Route 141 in Green Bay. I-43 is the 5th longest intrastate Interstate Highway of the Interstate...
over the Fox River
Fox River (Wisconsin)
The Fox River is a river in eastern and central Wisconsin in the United States. Along the banks is a chain of cities, including Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks, and Kaukauna. Except for Oshkosh, these cities refer to themselves as the Fox Cities...
just south of its mouth into Green Bay. It was named "in recognition and appreciation of Leo Frigo, 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." The bridge opened to traffic in 1981.
Since the structure is the highest and most high-profile bridge in the Green Bay area, it has been the scene of many suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
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 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
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
. She has since written a book, Why I Jumped, on her experiences. 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.