New bridge

Does anyone know if the Stillwater lift bridge will be all around closed to public once the new one opens? Im only wondering about foot traffic.

I heard on TV that it will be a foot bridge. How soon that happens after the new one opens they didn’t say.

I have no idea how they think this “foot and bicycle” traffic plan would work. To pull that off, the bridge has to stay fully staffed at least from dawn to dusk because the marinas upstream have to have the bridge operating to let taller boats by.

So who’s going to pay all the maintenance and operating and repair costs to keep this bridge fully operational and safe so a bunch of pedestrians can stroll across the bridge and take pictures? Operating costs would have to nearly half of what it took to keep it operational for motor vehicles. I can’t see anyone being willing to pony up millions of dollars for a footbridge.

Grouse

Come on Grouse open that wallet. You can’t really expect the bicycle crowd to ride on the streets can you?

Says it will open June 2019…

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/liftbridge/#liftbridgevideo

IMO they just need to let that old thing go. It would be more cost effective to tear it down and build a new taller walking bridge without lift needs.

I don’t understand the need to walk across? There’s nothing on the other side but a big hill. Are there hiking trails?

There will be.

suzuki wrote:

I don’t understand the need to walk across? There’s nothing on the other side but a big hill. Are there hiking trails?

Cajun Club….

Brian Klawitter wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
I don’t understand the need to walk across? There’s nothing on the other side but a big hill. Are there hiking trails?

Cajun Club….

BK may be thinking of a different biking crowd…

Had my first kiss under that bridge and that is my ONLY good memory of it.

There will be a 5-mile loop trail created with the new bridge.

I rode my bike to work 190 days last year and even I think this is an awful idea. As an avid trail runner I have exactly one non-negotiable request and that’s an uninterrupted route. I avoid anything that will cause an abrupt stop to my workout. Nothing would urine me off like having to stop my run for several minutes to wait for a boat to pass under the bridge.

I bet the bridge itself will end up being used more like the dike in Hudson — people will grab a coffee or an ice cream cone after dinner, walk out and enjoy the view, and walk back.

I’m not an engineer, maybe this isn’t possible to retrofit — but I think the smart thing to do would be to permanently lift the bridge and build stairs/ramps/elevators on either end to allow pedestrian access.

pool2fool wrote:

I’m not an engineer, maybe this isn’t possible to retrofit — but I think the smart thing to do would be to permanently lift the bridge and build stairs/ramps/elevators on either end to allow pedestrian access.

Sounds logical if they reallllllly must have a foot bridge there. Otherwise tear it out. There’s a new bridge in town.

suzuki wrote:

Sounds logical if they reallllllly must have a foot bridge there. Otherwise tear it out. There’s a new bridge in town.

I’m pretty sure the US Dpt of Interior has listed the bridge on the national registry of historic places — in other words, nobody’s going to be tearing it down any time soon.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

So who’s going to pay all the maintenance and operating and repair costs to keep this bridge fully operational and safe so a bunch of pedestrians can stroll across the bridge and take pictures? Operating costs would have to nearly half of what it took to keep it operational for motor vehicles. I can’t see anyone being willing to pony up millions of dollars for a footbridge.

There was legislature passed to create an endowment fund specifically for this purpose. MN and WI DOT’s have already deposited $7.5 million. They haven’t spent anything yet and have earned $88k in interest as of the 2016 FY report.

I think they’ll be OK.

suzuki wrote:

I don’t understand the need to walk across? There’s nothing on the other side but a big hill. Are there hiking trails?

There are other ways to cross…if they feel the need to.

Attachments:

1. 

   rivercrossing.jpg
   

saw a sign this morning that the bridge in Stillwater will be closed to automobiles on 8/3

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
I don’t understand the need to walk across? There’s nothing on the other side but a big hill. Are there hiking trails?

There are other ways to cross…if they feel the need to.

But that would take away from the beauty of the natural scenic riverway!

munchy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
I don’t understand the need to walk across? There’s nothing on the other side but a big hill. Are there hiking trails?

There are other ways to cross…if they feel the need to.

But that would take away from the beauty of the natural scenic riverway!

I can see where it might add to the “beauty of the natural scenic riverway!”

Attachments:

1. 

   woman-on-rope-swing.jpg
   

^^^You win!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Cajun Club….

Now that brings back some memories, good and bad visuals there!

Aren’t you guys fishermen?
Bridges hold fish.
The Stillwater lift bridge pumps out big fish!!

Of course, I’d be ok with tearing down the”bridge” leaving the pilons in the water and Charlie gets a boat!

Then the rest of us can fish the hot spot without the bridge folk raining hooks down on us!

Seriously though, that bridge is a fish magnet!