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For the newest information click here or see side bar Public Information Meetings - New River Crossing Bridge November 4th & 5th, 2009 Minnesota, Wisconsin transportation departments release annual project report for St. Croix River Crossing (Mar. 3, 2009) Visual Quality Animation - (January 2007)

Development of downtown Stillwater and northwestern Wisconsin as tourist destinations, commercial development along Highway 36 attracting employees and residents throughout the region, development in Wisconsin, and the economic strength of the Twin Cities metropolitan area as an employment center have contributed to increasing traffic volumes on Highway 36, Highway 95, in downtown Stillwater, State Highway 64, and across the Lift Bridge.

Identifying possible solutions to this transportation problem also requires consideration of the context in which this bridge and its adjoining roadways sit. The U.S. Congress has designated the St. Croix River, over which the Lift Bridge crosses, as a National Wild and Scenic River, designated for its scenic, recreational, and geologic values.

In addition, historic buildings, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are located throughout the Stillwater area, which is known as the "birthplace of Minnesota." The Stillwater Lift Bridge itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a testament to innovative engineering techniques in the early twentieth century.

The St. Croix River Valley is valued by residents and visitors alike for its combination of natural, historic, and scenic resources. Proposed solutions to the transportation problem should intend to minimize potential negative impacts on these resources and maintain the balance that creates a respected environment in which to live, work, and play.