This site is background information on the development of the project |
Mn/DOT
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
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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.
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