Title: St. Croix River Crossing | New Bridge Near Stillwater, MN | Related Links
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Content: Formal assessment of alternatives began with the preparation of the St. Croix River Crossing Draft Study Outline and Scoping Document (1985). Alternatives assessed with the 1985 document eventually led to the analysis of three river crossing corridor alternatives and two tunnel alternatives with the 1990 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). In 1995, the Final EIS identified a preferred alternative, and a Record of Decision was issued on July 10, 1995. In April 1995, Mn/DOT, Wis/DOT, and FHWA completed a Final EIS and Section 4 (f) Evaluation for a replacement bridge about 1,920 meters (6,300 feet) south of the existing Stillwater Lift Bridge. A Record of Decision (ROD) was issued by FHWA in July 1995, and work began on the final design of the river crossing and the approach roadways. Right-of-way was acquired, and site preparation work was initiated. In 1996, the National Park Service (NPS) evaluated the project under Section 7 (a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and found that the project, as proposed, would have a direct and adverse effect on the outstandingly remarkable scenic and recreational values for which the Lower St. Croix River was included in the National Wild and Scenic River System. As a result of this finding, federal permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard could not be issued for the project, and the project was not allowed to proceed. In April 1998, the U.S. District Court upheld the NPS determination. In an effort to determine whether any crossing of the Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway was feasible near Stillwater, Mn/DOT and Wis/DOT invited Richard P. Braun, a retired Mn/DOT transportation commissioner, to perform an independent review of the project.