This proposed bridge is intended to be a true lasting loving legacy for today’s children and future generations that is memorable, that all parties can be enthusiastically proud of, that the future generations will thank us for.  It will be practical and yet so attractive that it will be the pride and joy of not only those living near it but for all the citizens of the state of Minnesota and the state of Wisconsin and will draw visitors from all over the world, because it will be an asset to the communities on both sides of the river and to both states in general and a joy to behold both day and night.

 From the stand  point of navigation, this bridge opens the river to almost what it was when native Americans still roamed freely.  Unlike the existing lift bridge which obstructs about half the flow of the river or the MiDOT/WiDOT proposal which fills the river with many piers, this design has only 3 islands out in the river from which supporting piers rise.  All 3 serve as local recreation areas and as tourist attractions.

 This design is also practical for 2 major reasons.  As designed, these 2 piers are like the ice breakers used by the coast guard in the Great Lakes and would aid in breaking up and moving the ice out more quickly in the spring.  Second, in times of flooding the debris would, for the most part, follow the natural flow created by these piers and deflect it before it arrived thereby preventing any severe damage to any part of the bridge.

The amenities that become functional parts of the bridge are: First tourist centers on both the  Minnesota side and the Wisconsin sides of the St Croix. Second adequate parking for those wishing to use the walk ways and enjoy the river as pedestrians, bikers, and the family picnic and fishing areas.  Third an observation deck to enjoy panoramic views of the river.

The tourist centers will have the required minimal facilities but without shops or a restaurant for both ends to encourage tourists and travelers who would normally just drive by to stop and to use the restaurants and stores of downtown Stillwater.  Studies done by U of MN students  before the proposed “new bridge” at Hudson  found that almost all those shopping in Hudson were local people and that of all the cars on their way to and from Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago most did not stop even though they had no choice except to drive into and through the town of Hudson.

A reasonable amount of parking on both ends of the bridge would allow Wisconsin and Minnesota locals plus those just passing through, both pedestrians and bikers, to enjoy the walkway and picnic-fishing piers at water level which have fully developed park facilities with trees, gardens, and accommodations for family picnics at the base of the main tower in the middle of the river and the 2 other picnic-fishing island piers out from the shore.  These would also be the joy of every fisherman from five to one hundred and five. 

At the central tower an elevator takes visitors up to observation deck similar to the Eiffel tower in Paris where everyone could experience and enjoy spectacular views up and down the St Croix, all of Stillwater with its historic landmarks, and the richness of the Natural landscape of the Wisconsin shoreline.  Elevators would also go down to the 3 picnic-fishing island piers near the surface of the water out in the river.  It might be noted that tourist dollars fully paid for the Eiffel tower in just 3 years.  Here are 4 tourist areas that would provide income for most if not all of the year and eventually reimburse both Minnesota and Wisconsin for the cost of the bridge and its maintenance.

Those wanting to enjoy the river can park and walk out to the facilities provided for them with possibly rickshaw service for the elderly and the handicapped or a less romantic but more dramatic and thrilling solution would be gondola trams suspended below the deck taking passengers from the parking lots on one shore to those on the other with 3 stops along the way.   This pedestrian walkway on the south side would be specifically designed so that the winter sun, with very little help, would keep it free from ice and snow during the winter months.   As a bridge designed for people, the pathways for walkers, joggers and bikers or even for people with deck chairs who wish to spend some leisure time in the sun, is on the south side because on those clear brisk days of early spring and late fall, if one is protected from the northwest wind and the bright sun warms the area, these spaces can feel like summer.  One could not ask for more from a public space. 

Aesthetics  is a primary consideration because Stillwater is no longer an industrial, commercial, or manufacturing community.  It is a city of historical importance with many fine restaurants and shops.  This bridge becomes of a part of the activities of the community concerned with people while meeting the basic requirement of moving cars and trucks across the St Croix. This becomes the historic bridge of the future because there is no other bridge like it in the world with a gentle flowing into the landscape using Nature’s colors making it “belong” here and nowhere else.   

The graceful tower, the barriers along the road deck and the north wall of the walking, jogging, and bicycle promenade on the south side, and the concrete spans below at the shore line having the sublime synthesis of the bridges of the great Swiss engineer Robert Maillart (1872-1940) are a soft cream tan similar to but more delicate than the sand of the beaches along the shore.  The supporting cables from near the top down to the decks below are of sky blue  to blend with the water when overlooking the bridge from above or fading into the sky when on the river.  All metal work including handrails, lamp posts, screens, and the roof of the observation deck, are the delicate olive green of weathered copper whether natural or painted.  The piers for the arches at the shoreline and the walls rising out of the water at the middle of the river containing the parks with picnic areas and a continuous perimeter for the fishermen above are of rough cut projecting stones similar to the walls of the cliffs along the St Croix.  The shape of these island piers is in harmony with the flow of the river and because there are only 3, the river has essentially been returned to its full width.

Regarding the existing lift bridge, the west end could remain for its historical value while the east end would be removed to restore the full flow of the river.  Then, as they have done in a museum in Osaka, Japan, when they wanted to preserve the old city as it once was, they built a scale model which is on display for all school children to teach them about their past.  The same thing could be done here.  A fully operational scale model of the working lift bridge which would include both sides of the river with Stillwater’s shops and stores as they once were at the time of the construction of the lift bridge and could also include the train which, on its once  a day schedule, came in and out of Stillwater until the end of  WW II, along with  houses, cars, trucks, and a variety of boats on the river. This model would be on permanent display in the old court house.

A well designed bridge may even inspire future builders to become more aware of the aesthetics of well designed buildings and future homeowners would demand and expect it rather than continuing the present and anticipated urban sprawl. 

If only for cars and trucks with people secondary, then a new bridge becomes a liability rather than an asset especially to the town of Stillwater or to any future development on the Wisconsin side of the river.  Without doubt, similar businesses and homes will develop on the Wisconsin side and with careful thoughtful planning these become community centered for families to enjoy neighbors because all back yards in a cluster would be one large backyard where children can play under the watchful eyes of every household without any need to play in the streets, and all share  recreational facilities which are designed into and are a part of where they live and where everyone knows the  shop owners because their  shops are within walking distance.   Such communities would avoid chaotic urban sprawl and miles and miles of monotonous almost cookie cutter like  housing. 

Let this bridge be such as to inspire the imagination for all future bridges everywhere in the world based on principle and concern for people who can fully enjoy it rather than just simple utilitarian expediency.                                                                                                                         22 Sept 2003

            William E Davies                    A R C H I T E C T

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