Latest News


[<< Back to Latest News]

Restrictions for damaged Stillwater Lift Bridge
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

ROSEVILLE, Minn. - In the wake of a crash earlier this week that damaged the Stillwater lift bridge, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has established stricter height and weight limits for traffic crossing the St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Until repairs are completed in early August, all vehicles will be limited to 10,000 pounds (five-ton) gross vehicle weight with a height restriction of eight feet, six inches. Motorists with bicycle racks, ladder racks or other items on their roofs are reminded to check their height before crossing the bridge.

Temporary signs located along the road on both sides of the St. Croix River direct overweight trucks to use the detour route south to Interstate 94 at Hudson, WI.

The bridge will close to all traffic, including bicycles and pedestrians, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16. The bridge will reopen temporarily at 5 a.m. Wednesday, July 23, for the duration of Stillwater's annual Lumberjack Days. Height and weight restrictions will remain in effect during this time.

Beginning early Monday, July 28, the bridge again will be closed until repairs are completed in early August. During the closures, traffic will detour south to the I-94 Bridge at Hudson, Wis. The lift span of the Stillwater Bridge will remain operational during repairs to allow marine traffic to pass beneath.

The historic lift bridge between Stillwater, Minn., and Houlton, Wis., was struck by a lumber delivery truck heading westbound into Minnesota around 1:55 p.m. Monday which then became stuck on the bridge. The crash closed both lanes of traffic crossing the bridge for more than five-and-a-half hours.