Legislation to put a weight limit on the Stillwater Lift Bridge

St. Paul, Minn.-- Legislation to restrict trucks weighing more than 26,000 pounds from using Truck Highway 36 over the St. Croix River is moving through the Minnesota House and Senate.

"They're going through Stillwater to skirt the law and bypass scales and weigh stations," said Stillwater Mayor, Ken Harycki at the Capitol Wednesday.

Trucks are avoiding the pay stations in Wisconsin and using the Stillwater lift bridge, agreed Rep. Matt Dean (R-Dellwood). Dean maintains that most of these trucks have weight, improper load and vehicle problems.

"It's a safety issue," Rep. Dean said. He wants this legislation to go through to prevent an accident that could result in serious injury or death.

Many of the trucks are too big for the bridge so as they try to make the turn onto Main Street they hit it, Mayor Harycki explained.

Last July the bridge was closed for repairs to cross braces and vertical supports after they were hit by a lumber truck. Two weeks ago another truck hit and caused some minor damage to the bridge.

Rep. Dean said that Minnesota Department of Transportation gave the bridge a 32.8 safety rating in 2008 and registered it as a "fracture critical bridge."

"MNDOT is not for or against the bill they're neutral to the bill," Rep. Dean said.

Rep. Dean briefly commented on the state of the new Stillwater bridge, saying it doesn't have money attached to it yet. The approximate start date is 2013, with completion targeted for 2016.

"We want to make sure the existing bridge is safe first," Rep. Dean said.

The next stop for the bill is the floor of the Senate. The House version is heade for the Commerce and Labor Committee.

By Christine O'Donnell, KARE 11 News Capitol Assistant

(Copyright 2008 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)

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