Bachmann: Shutdown shows need for new Stillwater Bridge

Posted at 1:56 PM on June 24, 2011 by Tom Scheck (5 Comments)
Filed under: 2011 Shutdown, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann issued a news release today saying that a potential state government shutdown shows the need for a new bridge in Stillwater. State officials announced last week that the lift bridge will not be operating if state government shuts down on July 1.

Bachmann said the problem is proof a new bridge needs to be built.

"The prospect of the Stillwater Lift Bridge being locked in the 'up' position during a state government shutdown serves as another compelling reason for a new St. Croix River crossing. The bridge closure will result in more than 16,000 rerouted daily drivers experiencing increased travel times that will raise the cost of their daily commute.

"The 80-year-old lift bridge has been in need of replacement for decades, and we are now closer than ever to a new crossing. This spring I introduced a bipartisan bill in the House, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) introduced a similar bill with bipartisan support in the Senate, that would allow the river crossing project to move forward. I urge my colleagues to give these bills immediate attention. Once a new bridge exists, the Minnesota and Wisconsin residents who frequently cross the river will not have to worry about the impact that operational delays of the lift bridge will have on their daily commute."

Bachmann also said federal law requires lift bridges to remain open if no operator is available.

Comments (5)

The rules that are linked in the article do suggest that lift bridges have to remain open if an operator is not available. However, the rules say the bridges must be open for navigation, not vehicular traffic. That means the lift bridge should remain up, not down. When it comes to the Stillwater Bridge, Rep. Bachmann gets it exactly wrong. Again.

Posted by Jim Erkel | June 24, 2011 2:39 PM

Lock the bridge in the up position for a few leisurely recreational boats a day. Brilliant.
We do need a new bridge, but not the pork barrel Bachmann Boondoggle megabridge which will cost you and me $700 Million dollars.

Posted by JoDaBe | June 24, 2011 3:07 PM

Did the Congresswoman, Ms Bachmann, forget that we have a federal budget deficit that needs reduced. Building the bridge needs to be a private matter, witht he vridge sold to a private corporation.

What Congresswoman Bachmann wants is more Socialism in Minnesota, which will quickly lead to same-sex married wise Latinas on death panels.

We have to draw a line---NO INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING! It is nothing more than her version of a Socialist Jobs Project.

Posted by MauraHennessey | June 24, 2011 6:03 PM

Did the Congresswoman, Ms Bachmann, forget that we have a federal budget deficit that needs reduced. Building the bridge needs to be a private matter, with the bridge sold to a private corporation.

What Congresswoman Bachmann wants is more Socialism in Minnesota, which will quickly lead to same-sex married wise Latinas on death panels.

We have to draw a line---NO INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING! It is nothing more than her version of a Socialist Jobs Project.

Posted by MauraHennessey | June 24, 2011 6:03 PM

The only reason that the bridge would have to be locked in the up position, is that it passes over an eight foot channel in the river that ends one thousand feet upstream from the bridge. The channel is not needed and is the only reason the bridge needs to be operated. It is a left over from when Muller Boat-works made boats north of the bridge. It would be far cheaper to abandon that short piece of channel, and end the traffic delay of lifting the bridge. Somehow this fact just keeps getting forgotten.

Posted by ja | June 25, 2011 12:44 AM

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