The La Crosse Bridge Association was formed the afternoon following the partial collapse of the municipal Wagon Bridge in the early morning of August 9, 1935. A one-car traffic accident killed two of the four people in the vehicle. The tragedy resulted in a citizen’s committee formed by the Chamber of Commerce to promote the building and erection of a new bridge across the Mississippi River. Ironically, Alderman Sherman Lennon had first proposed construction of a new bridge to the La Crosse Common Council two months prior to the accident on June 14, 1935.
The new bridge was built with Wisconsin highway funds from the appropriation for special bridges and regular federal aid funds. The city of La Crosse furnished the right of way for the bridge. Construction of the Mississippi River High Bridge (Cass Street bridge) began in August of 1937 and a dedication ceremony was held on September 23, 1939. The La Crosse Bridge Association held its final meeting in February of 1940.
