The US Senate has approved a $700m project to build the new St Croix River bridge between Stillwater in Minnesota and Houlton in Wisconsin.

The bill must now pass the House of Representatives to be able to be signed into law, clearing the way for Minnesota and Wisconsin to build the new structure.

US senator Amy Klobuchar said approval by the Senate was a milestone for the project. "The residents and businesses in Stillwater and along the St Croix River Valley deserve a safe, more efficient alternative to the current 80 year-old lift bridge, which is outdated for the needs of the region," she said. "I hope the House will now take action and pass this critical legislation so that we can move forward and build this bridge."

The legislation included a package of mitigation efforts to protect the St Croix River that were developed by consulting the US Department of Transportation and National Park Service.

The plan would help promote scenic and recreational values of the St. Croix River by eliminating existing man-made structures, protecting river bluff lands, restoring park land, and ensuring public boat access.

The existing bridge connects Minnesota State Highway 36 and WIS 64. It is one of two bridges on the river between the Interstate 94 bridge in Hudson in Wisconsin and the US Highway 8 bridge in Taylors Falls, Minnesota.

The current St Croix River crossing is at the aging Stillwater Lift Bridge, where closings for structural and vehicle collision repairs and maintenance inspections have increased. The crossing project involves construction of a new bridge that would replace the aging one as the main Minnesota-Wisconsin crossing north of Interstate 94. The new bridge will divert commuters from Stillwater’s downtown, routing them to Minnesota 36 through Oak.

The US Congress has designated the St Croix River, over which the Lift Bridge crosses, as a National Wild and Scenic River, designated for its scenic, recreational and geologic values.

Also, the current bridge is a lift bridge, which raises frequently to allow boats to travel the St Croix River and leads to severe traffic congestion.

The current Metropolitan Council travel demand model forecasts average daily vehicle traffic on the river crossing at 23,100 by the year 2030 if no new St Croix River crossing is built; no alternatives have been proposed.

The predicted increase in traffic volume, if realised, will degrade traffic operations and safety in downtown Stillwater, on the river crossing and approaches; it will increase average delay, queue lengths and daily hours of congestion by 50% by 2030.

 

Image: The 80-year-old lift bridge in Stillwater, Minnesota, crosses the St Croix River, connecting Minnesota State Highway 36 and WIS 64.