The Beautiful Bridges of Stillwater
Out with the old and in with the new.

My favorite town on the scenic St. Croix River and perhaps in all of Minnesota is historic Stillwater. So lovely, Stillwater was voted as a “Top 5 Midwest Town to Visit," and Forbes Magazine rated it as one of the “Prettiest Towns in America.”

This stretch of the St. Croix, which frames Stillwater, always seems busy with recreational boaters, fishermen, paddlewheel boats and gondolas giving visiting guests scenic tours. Two of my favorite river landmarks are the city’s bridges connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

Stillwater Bridge
This picturesque 1,050-foot long bridge built in 1931 consists of seven fixed steel trusses, which include a vertical lifting span of 140 feet. The lifting span is a Waddell & Harrington type, one of six built in Minnesota and Wisconsin and one of only three remaining today. 
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When the river is high, it is always a thrill to reach up and touch its underside with either my paddle or hand for good luck.

This bridge is no longer in use and is being renovated for pedestrian traffic only. Replacing it is the new St. Croix Crossing just downriver. 

St Croix Crossing
This towering 1-mile four-lane highway opened in 2017 and features a bike and pedestrian path on the north side providing incredible views of the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway. 

To reduce both the number and height of supporting piers in the water, the extradosed design combines cable-stay engineering with box-girder construction. Connecticut has the only other large bridge of similar design in the country.