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| Date: | May 9, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATOR TED LILLIE STATEMENT ON STILLWATER LIFT BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROGRESS |
St. Paul- On May 4, a bill presenting a plan to replace the Stillwater Lift Bridge was passed in the U. S. House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. It was referred to the full Committee on Natural Resources and is expected to move to the floor of the House for consideration. Senator Ted Lillie (R-Lake Elmo) gave the following the statement in response to these developments.
“Proposals for a new bridge, dating back to the early 1970s, have faced many obstacles. Leadership is needed now to break through the logjam and clear the way for this project to come to fruition. As work continues at the State Capitol to negotiate a balanced budget and position Minnesota for future economic growth and job creation, I am also working behind the scenes to see a new bridge built over the St. Croix,” said Senator Lillie.
Senator Lillie has worked extensively to secure congressional approval and necessary funding from the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. On multiple occasions, Senator Lillie has toured the bridge site with Governor Dayton, Congresswoman Bachmann and local officials from Minnesota and Wisconsin to assess the condition of the bridge and flood preparation. He has also studied the concerns of environmental groups and others opposing the current proposal, looking for ways to ensure preservation of the scenic waterway. He helped facilitate cooperation between government, stakeholders and the public through the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing.
“We are fortunate to have many gifted and dedicated people working on this issue. It is a bipartisan, multi-state effort. We must provide a clear channel for commerce, tourism, recreation and daily life in the Stillwater area, and end the annual uncertainty and inconvenience of bridge closings,” added Senator Lillie.
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Senator Lillie was elected to his first term in November 2010. Senator Lillie can be reached at: 651-296-4166 (office) or sen.ted.lillie@senate.mn.
