Meet The Operator Of The Duluth Lift Bridge

Fox 21 Special Report: What A Job

Personality, history and many years of experience these traits are shared by both the lift bridge and her operator.

 “I’m a master electrician by trade. I worked 17 years at the paper mill in Cloquet. Over 30 years of maintenance.” Dave Campbell, Duluth’s  Lift Bridge Operator said.

 That sort of background comes in handy.Working on a bridge that’s more than a century old.

 Tourists love to check out the relic from the past.

 As the weather warms up tourists migrate to Duluth  and as the ship traffic gets heavier Dave’s job becomes especially hectic.

There’s never really a down day for Dave just as he’s telling us he has not been real busy today the phone rings.

 Dave needs to make room for a ship to pass by and it’s a short three minute ride from the top to the bottom of the bridge.

 ” The sun rise is spectacular across the lake.” Campbell said.

The sun isn’t always shining at this job. The bridge has seen it’s share of frightening moments, close-calls and death.

” I’ve had scary too! Where someone tries to jump on the bridge just as it begins moving. ” There have been some people who have unfortunately lost their lives on this bridge.” Campbell said.

Maintaining a high level of safety is key. When it comes to the operation of the lift bridge.

 “We never want anyone to get hurt. There’s moments like that too that will get your heart racing too.” Campbell said.

The bridge certainly has it’s share of celebrity and notoriety.

 “I’m working at one of the most visited things in the state of Minnesota. You just look at it as I’m going to work.”Campbell said.

 It seems everyone who knows about Duluth also knows about the famous bridge.