New St. Croix bridge construction to cost less than first estimated

• St. Croix bridge

This photo simulation shows an aerial view of the King Plant looking west and illustrates the proposed St. Croix River crossing between Oak Park Heights, Minn., and the town of St. Joseph. Minnesota Department of Transportation photo

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It will be cheaper than expected to build a new four-lane bridge over the Saint Croix River.

Minnesota transportation officials issued revised cost estimates yesterday. They now figure the total cost will be $626-million, with a range of $571-to-676-million. The target price is seven-million less than it was before, and the possible top price is $14-million-dollars cheaper. That’s good for Wisconsin taxpayers, who will cover half the cost of the project with the Gopher State paying the other half. The U.S. House of Representatives voted last week to exempt the new bridge from the federal Wild-and-Scenic Rivers Act. The bill is now in President Obama’s hands, and he’s expected to sign it.

Meanwhile, highway planners are ramping up their preparations for the new bridge. Construction is expected to take three years, starting in 2014. Adam Josephson of the Minnesota DOT said the lower cost estimate was due to some design changes – including the elimination of work around a railroad. Also, inflation won’t be as much as first expected.

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