Near Oak Park Heights in Washington County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
St. Croix Crossing
Photographed By Fitzie Heimdahl, April 11, 2020
1. St. Croix Crossing Marker
The St. Croix Crossing is an extradosed bridge design—described as a hybrid between a girder bridge and a cable- stayed bridge. The extradosed design was chosen because its signature qualities complement the natural attributes of the river valley. In an extradosed structure, the weight of the bridge and its users is supported by the piers and the external cables. The foundations originate in sandstone up to 100 feet below the river bottom. The main river crossing has four equal spans of 600 feet, and the driving surface is about 110-150 feet above the river—shortest near the Minnesota shore and tallest near the Wisconsin shore. Each pier tower rises about 65 feet above the bridge deck.
The bridge deck was constructed using about 1,000 individual segments—each up to 18 feet tall and 48 feet wide. They were placed one at a time from each pier until they met at mid-span between the towers. The bridge opened to traffic in 2017.
Erected 2017.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Building a Bridge (a few steps from this marker); Where's the State Boundary? (approx. 0.2 miles away); Steamboats on the St. Croix (approx. ¼ mile away); White Pine Treaty (approx. ¼ mile away in Wisconsin); Lake St. Croix (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lake St. Croix Overlook (approx. 0.4 miles away); Migration (approx. half a mile away in Wisconsin); Home to Bald Eagles (approx. half a mile away in Wisconsin). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park Heights.
Photographed By McGhiever, September 15, 2023
2. St. Croix Crossing Marker on the St. Croix River Crossing Loop Trail
Credits. This page was last revised on September 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2020, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on September 25, 2023, by McGhiever of St Paul, Minnesota. Photos: 1. submitted on April 13, 2020, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on September 25, 2023, by McGhiever of St Paul, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
