Stillwater Gazette: Time to End Trouble for Bridge Over St. Croix Waters

Eighty years ago, the Lift Bridge over the St. Croix River opened connecting Stillwater, Minn., and Houlton, Wis. Eighty years later, that Lift Bridge is a safety risk, poorly serving the people of both cities and it must be replaced.

The Lift Bridge has a safety rating of an astounding 32.8 on a scale of 100 (the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed in 2007 and took the lives of 13 was rated at 50). The people of Minnesota don't need to personally experience another bridge disaster. Traffic regularly stalls on the Lift Bridge because its two-lane capacity has long been overstretched. And the bridge's low height subjects it to likely closures in the spring because of flooding.

We have debated whether to build a new river crossing since the 1950s and in 1992, plans were finally put into place. The proposed design was for a four-lane crossing that would go from river bluff-to-river bluff south of Stillwater's downtown. It had a price tag of $80 million. Congestion would be eliminated, flooding water wouldn't reach the structure and the bridge's four lanes would be able to handle the traffic flow into the foreseeable future.

But just as the new, four-lane bridge was about to move forward, bridge opponents were able to block the project using frivolous lawsuits. They enlisted the support of the National Park Service who claimed the bridge violated the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Only an exemption from the U.S. Congress would allow the new bridge to be built.

After 20 years from the original design proposal, we are on the verge of congressional approval and seeing work begin on the new bridge. Minnesota and Wisconsin are ready and willing to the fund the project. In addition, there will not be one cent of new federal spending for the project.

But as final passage is close in Congress, there is a small, but vocal opposition group, to the new bridge. They are doing everything in their power to block the project. They agree with the need for a new crossing, but they prefer a three-lane design, which would cut diagonally across the river. But why build a bridge that will be obsolete for traffic needs before it's complete? These opponents claim they oppose the four-lane design because it's too expensive. But their own three-lane design could cost millions more. And if it were not for their stalling lawsuits in the last two decades, the four-lane bridge would be millions less expensive.

Recent results from a survey of registered voters in the St. Croix River Valley show overwhelming support: 86 percent of residents support the four-lane crossing. Now is the time for advocates of this project to rise up and demand the four-lane bridge be built. In Minnesota's recent history has there has not been such bi-partisan support for a project. We cannot allow the bridge opponents to stop this project that is good for the people of the St. Croix Valley and the people of Minnesota.

We are close to finally seeing this 20-year project come to fruition. The St. Croix River Crossing legislation on the four-lane design has passed the Senate. I am confident that, if the majority of the people of the St. Croix Valley who support this project will let their voices be heard, it will also pass the House and finally move forward. It's time to end the trouble for the bridge over the St. Croix waters and finish this long overdue project.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Stillwater) represents Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District and is sponsor of a bi-partisan bill in the U.S. House permitting construction of a new St. Croix River bridge.

Originally published by the Stillwater Gazette.