Stillwater bridge woes spurs appeal in Wisconsin

Last update: July 11, 2008 - 9:30 PM

Four western Wisconsin legislators appealed Friday to their state's Department of Transportation to move faster on finding money to build a new bridge over the St. Croix River south of Stillwater.

Recent problems on the Stillwater Lift Bridge show the need for urgency, the legislators wrote Frank Busalacchi, the agency's secretary.

"By all accounts, the existing bridge is antiquated, outdated and potentially dangerous," said Rep. Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson.

On Monday, a lumber truck that was too tall for the bridge damaged eight horizontal supports and other bridge connections. As a result, the bridge will close next week for repairs, reopen for Stillwater's Lumberjack Days July 23 through 27, and close again until repairs are completed in August.

An estimated 18,000 vehicles cross the 1931 bridge daily.

Signing the letter in addition to Rhoades were Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls; Rep. Ann Hraychuck, D-Balsam Lake, and Rep. John Murtha, R-Baldwin.

"This area has suffered with this transportation bottleneck for decades," they wrote Busalacchi.

The legislators pointed out that the Minnesota Department of Transportation in June had identified the new bridge, which would cross from the Minnesota side at Oak Park Heights, as a high-priority project. Minnesota's target date for construction now is 2013.

In their letter, the legislators urged Busalacchi and his department to commit to that date and immediately hire a consultant to explore funding sources.

"It is Wisconsin's time to step up to the plate," they wrote.

KEVIN GILES