New bridge across St. Croix River, Minn., en route to becoming a reality

Congress is close to passing a transportation bill—just not the one everyone has been talking about.

On Jan. 23, the Senate approved a measure that would allow construction of a $690 million bridge across the St. Croix River in Minnesota. Because the span crosses federally protected waters, it must receive approval from Washington. The House must now give the go-ahead prior to the bill being sent to President Obama.

“I look forward to the next step, which is passing this legislation in the House of Representatives,” said Michele Bachmann, who is expected to lead the charge in the House to replace the 80-year-old structure across the St. Croix River. “I am confident that this bill will be brought up before the House and the proposed St. Croix River Crossing Project will become a reality.”

Bachmann might face some stiff opposition in the House. Reps. Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison introduced legislation last November calling for a smaller bridge so that Minnesota would have more money for other related projects. Mn/DOT favors the $690 million deal.

“In the House we need to find a common-sense compromise, because a $700 million bridge across the St. Croix River is bad fiscal policy, bad transportation policy and bad environmental policy,” McCollum said in a statement.