Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to Sign Stillwater Bridge Bill in Hudson Today

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will travel to Hudson on Friday to visit  and the  to sign Senate Bills 26 and 54.

The governor will be at The Valley House at 2:45 p.m. on Friday to sign Senate Bill 26, which was introduced by state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-District 10) and deals with bonding authority for major interstate bridge projects, including the new St. Croix River Crossing project.

Sen. Ted Lillie (R-Lake Elmo) will join Walker during the signing.

In other Stillwater Lift Bridge news, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) released a statement today about the potential July 1 closure of the bridge if the government shuts down.

“The prospect of the Stillwater Lift Bridge being locked in the ‘up’ position during a state government shutdown serves as another compelling reason for a new St. Croix River crossing," the statement reads. "The bridge closure will result in more than 16,000 rerouted daily drivers experiencing increased travel times that will raise the cost of their daily commute. 

“The 80-year-old lift bridge has been in need of replacement for decades, and we are now closer than ever to a new crossing," the release continues. "This spring I introduced a bipartisan bill in the House, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced a similar bill with bipartisan support in the Senate, that would allow the river crossing project to move forward. I urge my colleagues to give these bills immediate attention. Once a new bridge exists, the Minnesota and Wisconsin residents who frequently cross the river will not have to worry about the impact that operational delays of the lift bridge will have on their daily commute." 

Federal regulation in United States Code requires drawbridges (which includes lift bridges) to be left open if operator service is not available.