With the snip of a ribbon the new $17.4 million Hwy 24 Mississippi River bridge in Clearwater was officially completed Wednesday, ahead of MnDOT’s originally projected fall opening. Construction began in August 2015. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to observe the occasion, with officials and community members from Clearwater, Clear Lake and surrounding areas on hand to celebrate.
After Clearwater Mayor Pete Edmonson welcomed the crowd, MnDOT engineering services Division Director Nancy Daubenberger spoke about the importance of the bridge and the challenges and innovations of its construction.
Wright County Commissioner Darek Vetsch thanked all involved with the project, saying, “This bridge illustrates what hard work and dedication can do.”
“You guys designed this right,” said paramedic and State Representative Jim Newberger, explaining how the wide trail along the bridge’s east side will provide access for emergency vehicles if the need ever arises.
Clearwater resident and Matron of Honor Elaine Paumen spoke briefly about the history of the Mississippi River crossing at Clearwater, stating she was honored to be the third woman to be asked to take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Clearwater bridge. Susan Rigby officiated at the first bridge dedication in 1930 and Maude Porter officiated at the second in 1960.
Paumen then cut the ceremonial ribbon, after which a Clearwater fire truck led a parade of antique and vintage cars, a motorcycle and a golf cart across the new bridge for the first time.
Riding in the parade were Lee Monk and Curtis Heaton, former mayors of Clearwater. Lifetime resident Heaton has used all four modes of crossing the Mississippi River at Clearwater during his lifetime; the ferry, the steel bridge, and now both concrete bridges.
In 1856 the first swing-line ferry crossing was begun at Clearwater, which was used until 1930 when it was replaced by a used steel bridge that was floated up the river from Anoka. In 1943 that bridge was washed out by high water levels and an ice jam.
Another ferry was put into service in 1944 but was taken out of commission in 1950 because of low water levels. Clearwater’s first concrete bridge was dedicated in 1960.
The average weekday traffic on Clearwater’s Hwy. 24 bridge is 16,000, with much higher numbers on weekends. The new bridge is designed to have a 100+ year service life; the old bridge is expected to be torn down in 2018.
