Minnesota, Wisconsin chose design firm for St. Croix bridge

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation have chosen the architectural and engineering firm HDR to lead the design effort for the St. Croix  Crossing Bridge.

The agencies said Tuesday the $14.2 million contract will develop the bridge design selected by a community stakeholder group. The bridge design will keep tower heights below river bluffs and reduce the number of piers in the river.

The four-lane bridge will span the St. Croix River between Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, and St. Joseph, Wisconsin.

The bridge will cost an estimated $280 million to $310 million. The bridge is part of the larger St. Croix Crossing project, which includes expressways on either side of the bridge in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The project’s total cost is estimated between $580 million and $676 million.