President Obama’s signature today is a historic step toward making the St. Croix River Valley a better place to live, work and visit.  It allows Minnesota and Wisconsin to again move the St. Croix River Crossing project forward, addressing a solution to the 80-year-old Stillwater Lift Bridge.  It is a national recognition of the consensus achieved by decades of hard work by St. Croix River Valley residents.

Thank you to all of the people who have poured years of their life into this project, studying dozens of plans, developing the best bridge for the region, and campaigning tirelessly for the future of the St. Croix River Valley.  Your hard work and dedication kept this project alive in the face of unprecedented obstacles.

There are too many leaders who deserve thanks for their work through the years to mention them all today.  However, we must thank Governors Mark Dayton and Scott Walker, Senator Amy Klobuchar and her co-authors Senators Ron Johnson, Al Franken, and Herb Kohl, and Representatives Michele Bachmann, Chip Cravaack, Ron Kind, and Sean Duffy for their hard work on behalf of their constituents in the St. Croix River Valley.  Their unwavering support and team effort for our region helped us secure the overwhelming backing of Congress and the Obama Administration.

When we first formed the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing, some viewed passage of federal authorizing legislation as an unrealistic goal.  We believed differently, and leadership from elected officials, businesses, and residents created the momentum that drove this project forward.

We are excited to now be working with the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation on the next steps for our shared vision of a new bridge becoming a reality.

From Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki and John Soderberg,
Co-chairs of the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing

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