Context-Sensitive Approach to Workhorse Bridges Within St. Croix River Crossing Project

Mn/DOT is one of the pilot states included in the FHWA Context Sensitive Design CSD program and has a well documented history of practicing CSD. The St. Croix River Crossing project is one of the largest CSD projects Mn/DOT and WisDOT have undertaken and is one of the more controversial projects in the history of either state. During the environmental process, a decision was made to advance and enhance the development of the visual aspects of key project elements. The development of the architectural tone as documented in a Visual Quality Manual (VQM) was a landmark step in completing the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the project. The development of VQMs during project design on large corridor projects has become standard practice, and in this particular project, integrating the VQM for the purpose of completing the EIS has aided in gaining public support for the project and addressing concerns expressed by project stakeholders. To meet the goal of improved community, agency and stakeholder participation, a facilitated process which included bridge architecture, landscape architecture and engineering disciplines was developed to address all aspects of the project and its potential impacts. All functional groups responsible for design, construction, and future maintenance of the facility were included in the visual quality planning process. When completed, the St. Croix River Crossing Project will include one of the first extradosed bridges in the US. The project has an extensive history and has taken several decades to develop. While the design of the River Bridge set the architectural tone for the project, the three grade separation structures were viewed as ‘transitional’ bridges. These bridges needed to relate to the river valley and the natural, cultural, and historical values of the local communities. While, the aesthetic nature of the river bridge developed out of an ‘organic’ parti, the relationship to the surrounding natural and developed environments was especially important on the work horse bridges.