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MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Stillwater Lift Bridge Repairs Begin October 19 as Scheduled River Lifts End Tuesday Night
STILLWATER, MN (October 19, 2026). Maintenance on the Stillwater Lift Bridge is scheduled to begin Monday, bringing changes for pedestrians and bicyclists as the bridge also approaches the end of its regular seasonal lifting schedule for boats.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to replace the bridge’s festoon electrical cable and drive motor. The cable supplies electricity to the motor that raises the movable span.
The project also includes replacement of steel platforms, ladders and railings. MnDOT expects maintenance to be completed by mid-May 2027.
South Sidewalk Remains Available
Crews are scheduled to work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MnDOT says the sidewalk on the south side of the bridge will remain open throughout the project. The former vehicle surface will be separated from the work area by fencing during the week, with that surface reopening on weekends.
People using the bridge should follow the designated route and posted construction signs. The work changes how people cross, but the announced plan maintains a pedestrian connection on the south side.
The bridge forms part of a nearly five-mile walking and bicycling loop linking Minnesota and Wisconsin across the St. Croix River.
For people planning a loop trip, the important distinction is between access to the remaining sidewalk and access to the bridge’s wider former roadway. Those spaces will not have the same availability during weekday construction.
Boat Lifts Shift to Advance Requests
Separately, the bridge’s 2026 regular lift schedule ends after the final scheduled lift at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, October 20.
Once seasonal staffing ends, the span will ordinarily remain down until spring. Boaters needing a lift must call MnDOT at 651-234-7110 at least 24 hours in advance.
That requirement affects river passage beneath the movable span. It is separate from the construction arrangements for people crossing on foot or by bicycle.
MnDOT says scheduled seasonal lifts will resume in spring 2027. The maintenance completion target extends into May, so the return of spring lift operations and the end of all repair work should not be assumed to occur simultaneously.
Residents and visitors can check the Stillwater Lift Bridge webpage for updates before planning a crossing or requesting a river lift.
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