Alternative Stillwater bridge plan to be released today

Supporters of an alternative Stillwater bridge plan say they'll release details of the proposal this Tuesday afternoon.

The Minneapolis ad agencies Colle+McVoy and Exponent invited reporters to a St. Paul press conference on a new plan that according to a news release, would cost "substantially less" than the current plan, and would "free up funding for other structurally deficient bridges in the state."

The ad agencies wouldn't identify the backers of the alternative plan. The plan already on the table would build a nearly $700 million, freeway-style four-lane bridge with several miles of major road improvements on either side in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Critics say a much lower profile, two- or three-lane bridge is adequate to replace the existing two-lane Stillwater lift bridge.

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