Bachmann, Governor Dayton and Local Officials Hold Productive Meeting on St. Croix River Crossing
Today Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) joined Governor Mark Dayton, Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki and other state and local officials from both Minnesota and Wisconsin regarding the St. Croix River Crossing Project. The group toured the existing eighty-year-old lift bridge over the St. Croix River and then met at the Water Street Inn to discuss options for proceeding with a new crossing. Dayton and Bachmann concluded their visit by helping with sandbagging efforts along the river.
Bachmann said of her visit, “Today’s discussion was an important milestone to bring the involved parties together as we proceed to build a needed bridge over the St. Croix for the residents of Minnesota and Wisconsin. A replacement for the Stillwater Lift Bridge has been discussed since the 1950s, but the last two decades, when funding was available and plans were presented, have seen prolonged lawsuits and stall tactics.
“Construction must move forward before the price tag rises on this project anymore. In 1992 this bridge was estimated at $80 million. Now it is over $600 million and if we don’t start building the bridge now that figure will only go up.
“We all agree something must be done because the current lift bridge can’t sustain 18,000 drivers a day much longer. I extend my sincere appreciation to Governor Dayton for taking the time to tour the bridge and meet with us today in Stillwater.”
Bachmann has introduced H.R. 850 in the 112th Congress to move the proposed project forward by maintaining that it is consistent with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Bachmann’s legislation is cosponsored by Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI-07), Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI-03) and Congressman Chip Cravaack (R-MN-08).
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Bachmann said of her visit, “Today’s discussion was an important milestone to bring the involved parties together as we proceed to build a needed bridge over the St. Croix for the residents of Minnesota and Wisconsin. A replacement for the Stillwater Lift Bridge has been discussed since the 1950s, but the last two decades, when funding was available and plans were presented, have seen prolonged lawsuits and stall tactics.
“Construction must move forward before the price tag rises on this project anymore. In 1992 this bridge was estimated at $80 million. Now it is over $600 million and if we don’t start building the bridge now that figure will only go up.
“We all agree something must be done because the current lift bridge can’t sustain 18,000 drivers a day much longer. I extend my sincere appreciation to Governor Dayton for taking the time to tour the bridge and meet with us today in Stillwater.”
Bachmann has introduced H.R. 850 in the 112th Congress to move the proposed project forward by maintaining that it is consistent with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Bachmann’s legislation is cosponsored by Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI-07), Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI-03) and Congressman Chip Cravaack (R-MN-08).
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