High Water Levels Could Extend Stillwater Lift Bridge Season

STILLWATER, MN — Continued high water levels on the St. Croix River along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border may delay plans next week to close a gap in the bridge located east of the lift section. The Minnesota Department of Transportation had planned to replace the bridge’s span No. 6, two spans east of the lift span on Nov. 1.

Even though the Stillwater Lift Bridge is not operational due to repairs underway on the lift span, closing the opening would effectively end the 2018 Stillwater Lift Bridge lift schedule for most large marine traffic.

Once the span is returned to its original location, only smaller watercraft will be allowed to move up or down river beneath the bridge. Signs will direct those boats to the proper location to safely pass under the bridge since parts of the bridge will have scaffolding hanging underneath, according to a news release.

The span was floated out of position and anchored parallel with the east bank of the river in late July to allow for repair work and repainting on the lift span. With the lift span closed the removal was needed to provide access for river traffic to move unimpeded up and down the St. Croix River through the rest of the boating season.

The historic lift bridge, spanning the St. Croix River, is being transformed into a bicycle and pedestrian crossing. The lift bridge also will accommodate marine traffic during and after the project is complete in mid-June 2019.

This conversion project is part of the St. Croix Crossing Project. The converted lift bridge will also become part of a 5-mile “loop trail” system connecting the new river crossing bridge up with the historic bridge and other local trails.

With repairs to the lift span expected to be finished over the winter, the lift bridge schedule will resume in late April 2019.

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