Locals mark anniversary of Stillwater Lift Bridge project; more improvements on the horizon

Stillwater is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the lift bridge and loop trail with food, music and fireworks.

The grand opening was canceled last year because of the pandemic.

“It’s a lot safer that’s for sure. I mean I used to ride the bridge when it was an ordinary bridge and cars would go across it,” local biker Kevin Doctor said.

The Stillwater Lift Bridge was originally a roadway for traffic; now it’s pedestrians only.

“I think it makes the community more accessible this way a fun place to be downtown and you can walk around,” local biker Michelle Doctor said.

Making the Stillwater lift bridge pedestrians-only is lifting spirits.

“It’s been a great change for the town,” Blair Lenzmeier, Stillwater resident, said. "Beautiful, just an iconic symbol for the town.”

The loop trail connects Minnesota to Wisconsin stretching nearly 5 miles through the St. Croix crossing bridge and the Stillwater Lift Bridge.

Officials say this historic symbol bridges together the old and the new.

“This is a very unique bridge and it’s also on the national register of historic places, so there’s a lot of significance to the area,” MnDOT spokesman Adam Josephson said.

The Stillwater Lift Bridge was opened for business in 1931. It’s well known for traffic that backed up into downtown Stillwater.

St. Croix Crossing Bridge nearby opened in 2017. Then, the lift bridge had a transformation.

“There was a construction project for a few years that converted it to what it is now, which is a bike and pedestrian bridge,” Josephson said.

Now Stillwater doesn’t keep still.

“Stillwater is always busy,” Josephson said. “Everyone has stories of being out here enjoying the bridge and enjoying Stillwater.”

The bridge is creating a gateway to the community bringing more life to downtown, and more big changes are coming.

MnDOT said next year the road leading to the bridge on the Minnesota side will become a pedestrian plaza where people can gather. Officials said the project will be done in the fall of next year.