The Stillwater lift bridge will be closed for repairs next week, state transportation officials announced Thursday.
The historic bridge, connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin over the St. Croix River, was damaged Monday when a truck that was too tall tried to cross the bridge and struck the horizontal spans.
The bridge will close to traffic, at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
It will reopen temporarily for Lumberjack Days, Stillwater's annual summer festival -- from 5 a.m. July 23 through the festival, which ends July 27.
The bridge then will be closed to traffic starting early July 28, and will remain closed until repairs are complete in early August, a Minnesota Department of Transportation news release said.
MnDOT officials are preparing an emergency contract to repair damage to steel members on the lift bridge caused by the lumber delivery truck.
The truck damaged eight cross braces, three portals on the arches and bent some vertical supports, MnDOT said.
No one was hurt, but the accident closed the bridge for more than five hours.
Since the accident, trucks have been banned from the bridge. Next week, all vehicle traffic will be redirected south to the Interstate 94 bridge at Hudson, Wis.
However, boats on the St. Croix River may continue to travel under the bridge while it is being repaired.
Allie Shah • 651-298-1550.