Saltzman clarifies new bridge funding, urges enforcement on old

By Mark Brouwer Lake Elmo Leader
Published Wednesday, July 16, 2008

While the state’s transportation department deserves credit for making a new St. Croix River crossing a priority, it was the Legislature that approved the funds that could make Minnesota’s part of the bargain a reality.

In a written response to four western-Wisconsin legislators’ recent call for funding a new bridge, Sen. Kathy Saltzman (DFL-Woodbury) clarified that the Minnesota Department of Transportation has long wanted to building the bridge, but that it took a bi-partisan effort by legislators stakeholders last winter to get it funding.

“While your letter states that ‘MnDOT should be commended for recognizing the importance of moving this project forward,’” Saltzman wrote, “you should be aware that when announcing accelerated construction projects an the Bridge Improvement Program, MnDOT officials have consistently noted that these projects would not be possible without passage of the 2008 Omnibus Bill,” which the Legislature passed early in its session.

“It not only took legislative leadership to move this project forward, but the critical support of a broad, bipartisan, stakeholder advocacy group that included our business community,” she said further.

On July 8, Wisconsin legislators Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson), Rep. Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake), Rep. John Murtha (R-Baldwin), and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) contacted the Wisconsin Department of Transportation chief Frank Busalacchi asking why a consultant for the St. Croix River Bridge project had not been hired as was authorized in the state’s 2007-09 biennial state budget.

The letter included comments regarding both states’ financial involvement in the project, which Saltman said she was attempting to clarify.

Last month, MnDOT identified the estimated $440 million project among 11 major bridge replacements it would pursue as a result of the legislative funding. Construction is scheduled tentatively for 2013. In all, more than 160 Minnesota bridges are to be replaced or renovated under a 10-year program funded by increased gasoline taxes and other fees.

Although Minnesota is the lead agency for the project, the federal government could pay as much as 80 percent of the overall river crossing project, with the two states splitting the remainder. However, the federal government has yet to dedicate funding needed for the project.

Saltzman noted further that the project could benefit from the inclusion of the Stillwater Lift Bridge — which it would replace — on a list of “Tier One” bridges with fracture-critical ratings, high traffic loads and other deficiencies.

In a reference to last week’s incident in which a truck became ensnared in the lift bridge’s superstructure, Saltzman urged her Wisconsin counterparts to do their part to keep illegal vehicles off the bridge.

“The Minnesota State Patrol and Stillwater Police Department are putting significant time and effort into enforcing truck safety laws,” she wrote. “I hope you will work with the Wisconsin State Patrol to request their participation in this effort, as well.”

“This latest incident resulted when a truck approached the bridge from Wisconsin.”