A group calling itself a community coalition has launched an effort to support the construction of a new bridge over the St. Croix River south of Stillwater.

The Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing says it is "a group of business, labor, government and community leaders from Minnesota and Wisconsin who support building a new bridge that balances community needs and benefits the entire region."

They want the new freeway-style bridge to replace the existing lift bridge over the St. Croix that connects Wisconsin and downtown Stillwater.

A National Parks Service ruling said that a proposed new freeway-style bridge would interfere with the river's scenic beauty, but Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has introduced legislation in Congress to authorize the building of a new bridge anyway.

But many environmentalists and Congresswoman Betty McCollum oppose plans for an expensive new bridge that would connect with Hwy. 36 on the Minnesota side.

The Coalition's co-chair, Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki, says the group will urge Congress to act on Bachmann's proposal:

“People who live in the St. Croix River Valley overwhelmingly support the new bridge and want the ability to safely and efficiently cross the river. The coalition is trying to build on this support and make the proposed bridge a reality. We hope that Congress will review the project, understand how important it is to our region, and take action to allow the bridge to be built.”

As part of the new bridge project, the group says the plan it supports will "reconstruct sections of the highways leading up to the bridge; convert the Stillwater Lift Bridge into the signature element of a new bicycle and pedestrian loop trail; preserve historic downtown Stillwater and other historic sites; and increase public access to the river valley."