ST. PAUL, Minn. (Press Release) – The Minnesota
and Wisconsin departments of Transportation announced they will
accelerate the St. Croix Bridge project by starting construction on the river
piers for the bridge foundation in 2013.
"We have been working on integrating the
results of the load testing to make the project more efficient in terms of
managing scope, schedule and budget," said Jon Chiglo, MnDOT project director.
"By separating out the foundation work, we can start construction sooner, reduce
inflation costs and create jobs a year earlier than scheduled."
The $50 million
contract will open for bids in late-winter 2013. Construction is anticipated to
begin on the bridge foundations in late-spring 2013. Previously, construction
was planned to begin in spring 2014.
The St. Croix Crossing project replaces the 80-year-old Stillwater Lift
Bridge with a safer, more reliable four-lane bridge that will connect
expressways on both sides of the St. Croix River in Stillwater and Oak Park
Heights, Minn. and St. Joseph, Wis. The project adds extensive trail systems,
including converting the Stillwater Lift Bridge to a bicycle and pedestrian
crossing. It also includes constructing three
miles of four-lane highway on Highway 35 Wisconsin and reconstructing about
three miles of Highway 36 and Highway 95 in Minnesota.
The four-lane St. Croix
Crossing Bridge is estimated to cost between $280 million and $310 million. The
total cost for the entire St. Croix Crossing project is estimated to cost
between $580 million and $676 million.
For more information on the St.
Croix Crossing project, visit www.mndot.gov/stcroixcrossing
or the St. Croix Crossing
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/saintcroixcrossingmndot.
