Wis., Minn. brief public on new St. Croix bridge

The St. Croix River
The St. Croix River, with the Stillwater Lift Bridge in the foreground.
MPR Photo/Tom Weber

Back-to-back meetings will provide Wisconsin and Minnesota residents with an update on the long-planned St. Croix River bridge project.

Public information meetings are scheduled for Wednesday evening in Houlton, Wis., and Thursday evening in Oak Park Heights, Minn.

They're the next steps in developing design and construction plans for a new bridge intended to reduce traffic on the historic Stillwater lift bridge.

Construction could begin in 2013 and is expected to take a few years. Cost estimates for the proposed bridge and related work on either end are approaching $670 million.

Officials have been considering whether and how to build a replacement bridge in the area since the early 1970s. Finances and environmental concerns have long been stumbling blocks.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.