New Day for Stillwater Lift Bridge, Minnesota Wall Art, Minnesota Art, Stillwater Minnesota - Canvas or Paper Print

The Stillwater Lift Bridge is an iconic and historic bridge much loved as a symbol in its community. Opened in 1931, it crosses the St. Croix River connecting Stillwater, Minnesota with Houlton, Wisconsin.

The Lift Bridge was built to replace a wooden pontoon bridge and became a vital link for surrounding communities.

By the late 1950s, discussion began on eventually replacing the bridge and with each passing year the problems of traffic congestion due to increased vehicular and river traffic got worse. And with each passing year the need for repairs and maintenance increased.

Still, through deterioration, repairs and a changing world the Lift Bridge has persisted.

During the environmental review process for a new bridge the National Park Service determined that because the St. Croix River had been designated a “wild & scenic” river, the lift bridge had to come down if a new bridge were built.

This began nearly 22 years of studies, lawsuits, and mediations between the stakeholders. It seemed like a breakthrough in June 2002, when an agreement was reached to separate the decision about the Lift Bridge’s fate from plans for a new bridge, now possible after the National Park Service dropped the requirement requiring demolition if a new bridge was constructed. It appeared that the day was saved that logic had prevailed.

However, shortly thereafter in response to a lawsuit, the National Park Service reversed their decision and reverted to their original position that the Lift Bridge must be removed for a new bridge. It appeared it was only a matter of time before the Lift Bridge would be removed.

But a full reading of the National Park Services decision left just the smallest sliver of hope by allowing their decision to be reversed by an act of Congress. Thus began an intense lobbying campaign to Congress to take action to save the bridge. As a result, Congress finally voted to authorize a new bridge under the Wild and Scenic River’s Act, subject to appropriate mitigation which allowed the existing Lift Bridge to remain and be renovated as part of a new loop trail. The bill was signed by President Barack Obama shortly after. The Lift Bridge reopened as a bicycle/pedestrian bridge in 2020 following extensive rehabilitation and the 2017 opening of a new vehicular bridge.

The day the renovated bridge reopened truly marked a new dawn for the Lift Bridge. I photographed the first morning light behind the Lift Bridge on three different occasions in the span of one week. I was struck with how different the colors of the light could be during that time. This pink sky was a shot on my last visit.