MnDOT Unveils 'New' Stillwater Lift Bridge Color: Photos

STILLWATER, MN — Following an early morning inspection of the newly repainted Stillwater Lift Bridge span 9, construction crews began removing the tarps Friday. The new paint that matches the historic green color with gray railings was revealed for the first time.

A containment system was placed around the entire span to prevent any blasting media or other debris from falling into the St. Croix River below. Workers also used a high-power vacuum system to clean the bridge surfaces as the tarp was removed.

The waste material removed from the bridge was deposited into drums on the Wisconsin shore for hazardous material disposal.

With repairs and painting completed on the first section of the historic 1931 lift bridge, crews will move to the west and erect the containment system and begin repairs, removing rust and old paint and painting again until they reach the final span on the Minnesota side of the river.

The two-year lift bridge rehabilitation project began last August when the new St. Croix Crossing bridge opened to traffic.

Work includes:

• Repair of steel connections
• Restoration of mechanical and electrical components
• Repair to concrete railings
• Reconstruction of the concourse
• Painting the lift bridge its historic green color; and
• Replacing lighting to replicate the original 1931 lights

Transformation of the lift bridge to a bicycle-pedestrian crossing will be completed in June of 2019 and will be one of the links in a nearly five-mile loop trail in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Images via Minnesota Department of Transportation