JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE

Julien Dubuque Bridge

JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE. By 1936, the HIGH BRIDGE was forty-nine years old. Believing a new bridge would be a good idea began with the Community Service Commission of the Dubuque post of the American Legion. In 1938 the Legion joined forces with the Chamber of Commerce to advance the idea.

On April 26, 1938 similar bills were introduced in the United States House and Senate to create a City of Dubuque Bridge Commission with five members who would direct the new bridge and its tolls. Both houses approved the bill by June 10th and the issue was sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt for final approval.

Problems began. The legislation provided for tax exempt bonds to e issued to fund the bridge. By the time the matter had reached the president, he had already expressed his opposition to tax-free bonds and had already vetoes several other bills. In 1939 the bill was passed again with the bonds being taxable. Roosevelt signed the legislation on July 18, 1939, and the Commission was established two days later.

Construction remaining on the center span. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

The new bridge commission believed it should begin by purchasing the stock held by investors in the High Bridge. This did not go smoothly because of the money the tolls on the bridge were generating. Eventually, however, the commission owned the High Bridge.

The location of the bridge also posed problems. Supporters of the approach on East and West Sixth Street, East and West Third Street, and Jones Street all argued their cases. The Dodge Street entrance, however, preferred by the Iowa Highway Commission and the city bridge commission eventually won. Navigation interests and the city dock commission raised issues claiming the Dodge Street location would interfere with the municipal dock and freight barges. Changes in the plans were made to settle these issues.

Begun in April 1941, the construction of the new bridge began on both the eastern and western shores of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER and eventually met mid-stream. A four-lane bridge was discussed, but rejected due to cost. The Commission had to issue $2.8 million in bonds as only $700,000 came from the federal government.

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

The structure extended 6,400-feet and consumed seven thousand tons of structural steel, one thousand tons of reinforcing steel, two and one-half million linear feet of piling, and thirty thousand cubic yards of concrete. Because it was wartime, the bridge was painted gray to better camouflage it in case of aerial attack. Costing $3.1 million, the bridge was opened on August 31, 1943, with free passage for the first fifteen hours. Hazel Skemp, queen of the Shangri-La War Stamp Campaign Committee, cut the ribbon opening the bridge for traffic. Although the bridge has a standard design, it won the American Award for Beauty of Construction in 1943. It is considered another of the high bridges in Dubuque because it stands 65 feet above the water.

With the completion of the Julien Dubuque Bridge, the DUBUQUE WAGON BRIDGE, a wooden toll bridge south of the Illinois Central railroad bridge and operated by the Dubuque-Dunleith Bridge Company, was purchased for just less than half a million dollars and then torn down in 1944.

Toll house on the approach to the Julien Dubuque Bridge. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Fears that gas rationing and lower automobile production would cause revenues on the toll bridge to fall short of paying off the bonds were unfounded. Traffic after the war was so heavy that the bonds were paid off fourteen years early. Tolls were removed on the bridge December 27, 1954. Six months later the Commission dissolved itself leaving its books showing $325,000 in the black. This money along with maintenance responsibilities was divided between the highway commissions of Iowa and Illinois.

Photo courtesy: Cathy's Treasures, 156 Main, Dubuque

In February 1991, the Julien Dubuque Bridge was closed to all traffic to allow major repairs. The structure was redecked, and both the Illinois and Iowa approaches to the bridge were reconstructed. On November 2, 1991, the bridge was reopened following a ceremony and a procession of antique cars that made the first crossing for motorized vehicles.

Toll booths shown. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey