Here is a note for commuters who use the Stillwater Lift Bridge. The summer schedule governing the times the bridge will be raised to accommodate water traffic goes into effect Wednesday.

The schedule to be in effect until October calls for the bridge to be raised on weekdays every hour between 8 and 11 a.m., every 30 minutes between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 10 p.m. It also will be raised at 4 and 5:30 p.m.

On weekends and holidays, the bridge will be raised at 8, 8:30 and 9 a.m., then every hour between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., and every 30 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The bridge could be raised at other times if boaters make arrangements at least 24 hours in advance. The bridge will not be raised if water traffic is not present.

Starting in fall 2016, the historic bridge spanning the St. Croix River will undergo a transformation into a bicycle/pedestrian facility. 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. The lift bridge will still operate to accommodate boat navigation. The repurposing of the bridge provides another transportation option for pedestrians and bicyclists