Survey Says 'Majority' of St. Croix Valley Voters Support the Four-Lane River Crossing

As the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to take up legislation that would allow the St. Croix River Crossing to move forward, a new survey indicates that 86 percent of voters in the St. Croix River Valley support the proposed project, according to a news release from the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing.

A significant majority of voters (85 percent) believe that the four-lane bridge needs to be built now, and that the states should not delay construction to review other proposals, the release states. Last week the on a new four-lane bridge over the river.

According to the two surveys conducted by Myers Research and Strategic Services and American Strategies Incorporated from Jan. 18-22 of 400 registered voters who live in the St. Croix River Valley, replacing the 80-year-old Stillwater Lift Bridge is the top priority.

Those surveyed include residents living in: Stillwater, Stillwater Township, Grant Township, Oak Park Heights, Bayport and West Lakeland Township, as well as Hudson, North Hudson, Houlton, Boardman, Burkhardt, Jewett, Somerset and New Richmond in Wisconsin.

The overall margin of error was +/- 4.9%.

Results of the survey state that overall, 92 percent of residents are familiar with the issues surrounding the decades-long debate about replacing the bridge. According to the survey, a majority of the 400 voters (79 percent) are concerned about the safety of the fracture-critical Stillwater Lift Bridge.

Voters overwhelmingly believe that the new bridge will make it safer to cross the St. Croix River, shorten travel time between Minnesota and Wisconsin, and result in less traffic in downtown Stillwater.

“This survey proves what we have known for years – St. Croix Valley residents overwhelmingly support the St. Croix River Crossing,” Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki said in a statement. He is also the co-chair of the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing.

“The public is saying that it is time to build the bridge, he said. "We are thankful that our elected officials both at home and in Washington are listening to their constituents and taking the final steps to make this bridge a reality.”