Oak Park Heights / Last shop makes way for the bridge

He was right to hold out.

Only stupid MNDOT and the stupid state of MN would put ANY money towards this bridge to nowhere Wisconsin!

What does MN get out of a bridge over the St. Croix????? MAKE WI PAY FOR THE BRIDGE!

Wisconsin should pay for the bridge that brings Wisconsin residents over to Minnesota.

Mr Right wrote:

What does MN get out of a bridge over the St. Croix????? MAKE WI PAY FOR THE BRIDGE!

For one thing, not having to sit on the hill in Stillwater in 90 degree weather for 30 minutes because the lift bridge is up.

Just build the bridge. The cost of the bridge goes up every minute..Just do it!!

The Real Whatever wrote:

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For one thing, not having to sit on the hill in Stillwater in 90 degree weather for 30 minutes because the lift bridge is up.

That's why Wisconsin should pay for the bridge. The people waiting for the bridge are on their way to Wisconsin. People living in MN know how to avoid this area and navigate thru Stillwater.

What MN gets from the bridge are an additional 40,000 workers who cross into the state to work for MN companies and purchase their goods in MN. MN actually ends up getting a lot of money from the WI residents who cross over. Another thing would be the residents and business owners in the downtown Stillwater area who won't have to deal with the excess traffic and pollution from all the autos that are stuck trying to pass through the downtown area without purchasing anything there. The cost needs to be shared because both sides of the river do benefit.

I live in the area and go to WI about once a week. I think it would be great to have another way to get there. Plus, some of the best motorcycle riding routes are in the western WI. Nice roads and much more scenic than the MN side.

View from the East wrote:

What MN gets from the bridge are an additional 40,000 workers who cross into the state to work for MN companies and purchase their goods in MN. MN actually ends up getting a lot of money from the WI residents who cross over. Another thing would be the residents and business owners in the downtown Stillwater area who won't have to deal with the excess traffic and pollution from all the autos that are stuck trying to pass through the downtown area without purchasing anything there. The cost needs to be shared because both sides of the river do benefit.

The wisconsin residents are already coming over to shop and work...we don't need to help them come faster. WI should pay for the bridge!!

The Real Whatever wrote:

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For one thing, not having to sit on the hill in Stillwater in 90 degree weather for 30 minutes because the lift bridge is up.

Hey moron, you could have driven to Hudson and crossed on the 8-lane I-94 bridge in half that time with a cool breeze blowing through your windows. Get a clue!

The Real Whatever wrote:

I live in the area and go to WI about once a week. I think it would be great to have another way to get there. Plus, some of the best motorcycle riding routes are in the western WI. Nice roads and much more scenic than the MN side.

There are plenty of ways to get there, moron. I-94, US 10 at Prescott, Osceola, Taylor's Falls. I suggest you move to Wisconsin--or get a road map.

We don't need a bridge, there is a perfectly good one in Hudson.

Smart Driver wrote:

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There are plenty of ways to get there, moron. I-94, US 10 at Prescott, Osceola, Taylor's Falls. I suggest you move to Wisconsin--or get a road map.

Moron, are you aware of how miles both of those routes add when trying to go to Wisconsin from Stillwater? Don't need a roadmap for that. Ask anyone who crosses on a regular basis. A direct route that doesn't use an old, decaying lift bridge is a good option for citizens on both sides.

This bridge only helps housing developers in Wisconsin and does nothing for MN. Why should MN pay for it? They should close the Stillwater lift bridge and make the commuters use I-94.

Sniff! Choke! Sniff! Get out the way! We are all headed to Cheeseland!

Have you been over to Houlton? It's already being developed in expectations of the new bridge. Wisconsin is not a foreign country, fools. Just because you can drive 10 miles or more extra to get over there, doesn't mean that old crappy bridge through the middle of Stillwater shouldn't get replaced. It was fine up until the late '60s, but it is a major bottleneck and obstruction now. Wisconsin is paying for the bridge as well. It was in the papers and on the news dummies.

If you live or travel in the St Croix Valley, I respect your opinion. If you don't, shut it. Seriously. The roads in Stillwater suck (HATE those frontage roads!). Meanwhile, our taxes go to pay for roads for commuters in the west metro all the time! We never use them, but obviously others do, so I'm fine with that. Stillwater NEEDS to get the stupid traffic out of downtown. And our WI friends and neighbors live just a few miles away and spend a lot of money here. Stop hating them. And stop trying to dictate what we need in a town that is no where near you.

PS - I live in Stillwater, work in Baldwin. Don't want anyone thinking I'm a Sconnie due to my ID :)

The Real Whatever wrote:

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For one thing, not having to sit on the hill in Stillwater in 90 degree weather for 30 minutes because the lift bridge is up.

You know, there's the I-94 bridge just to the south across the St. Croix. If you want a more scenic option you can take the 243 bridge across the river at Osceola. Don't destroy a beautiful river with an unneeded, hugely expensive new bridge just for your convenience when there are other easily reached options.