St. Croix Crossing Bridge Designers Named

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – The Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation have picked the architectural and engineering firm HDR and teaming partner Buckland & Taylor to design the St. Croix Crossing Bridge.

The $14.2 million contract will develop the bridge that will span the St. Croix between Oak Park Heights, Minn. and St. Joseph, Wis.

The bridge's design will minimize environmental impacts by keeping the height of the tower below the river bluffs. The number of piers in the river will also be reduced.

The bridge's design is called extradosed, and was selected by a community stakeholder group. It is the second of its kind in the country. Connecticut is currently building the first extradosed bridge.

The four-lane bridge's estimated price tag is between $280 and $310 million. It's just one component of the larger St. Croix Crossing project, which includes expressways on both sides of the bridge, extensive walking and bike trails, and historic and environmental protection efforts.

The total cost of the whole St. Croix Crossing project is estimated at between $580 and $676 million.

The design work should be completed by the summer of 2013, and the construction should begin later that fall.

Click here for more information on the St. Croix Crossing project.