Stillwater Lift Bridge Closes Again Wednesday

STILLWATER, MN — The Stillwater Lift Bridge is open to traffic once again Wednesday morning. A malfunction in an electrical meter socket that monitors power usage at the bridge failed but has been repaired, according city officials. The bridge opened at about 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Crews from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Xcel Energy worked through the night to repair the bridge.

However, the bridge will be closed once again starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday so MnDOT crews can fix an electrical cable. Weather permitting, it will stay closed until 6 a.m. Thursday, KARE 11 reported.

How it began

A motor vehicle struck a transformer at about 12 p.m. Tuesday and cut the power in downtown Stillwater, MnDot told the Pioneer Press. The bridge was stuck in the "up position." (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Minnesota Patch, click here to find your local Minnesota Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The closure caused rush-hour headaches. The historic bridge spans across the St. Croix River and connects to Wisconsin. Traffic was detoured to Interstate 94 in Hudson.

Lakeview EMS announced Tuesday afternoon it moved one of its ambulances to the Wisconsin side of the river to ensure it's able to cover its service area.

Image via Google Streetview