Stillwater bridge would close to cars in government shutdown

STILLWATER, Minn. (AP) – City officials in Stillwater say the Stillwater Lift Bridge between Minnesota and Wisconsin will be closed to car traffic if state government shuts down on July 1.

City Administrator Larry Hansen tells the Star Tribune Friday that they were told by the Minnesota Department of Transportation that the bridge would be raised and then closed so that river traffic could continue to pass under it.

Hansen said it would have a huge impact on the city and surrounding communities. He said commute times for people who rely on the bridge would likely double or triple.

Minnesota government will shut down July 1 if Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican state lawmakers fail to agree on the size of the next two-year state budget.

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com