Stillwater Bridge, Vertical lift bridge between Stillwater and Houlton, United States
Stillwater Bridge is a steel lift bridge spanning the St. Croix River with a center section designed to rise vertically for boat passage. Today it serves as a pedestrian and bicycle crossing that directly connects the two states on either side of the river.
Built in 1931, it replaced an earlier swing bridge constructed in 1910 at the same location. When a replacement bridge opened in 2017, the original structure transitioned to pedestrian and bicycle use only.
The bridge reflects early twentieth-century engineering approaches and allows visitors to observe the craftsmanship of its design firsthand. It forms a visible link between two states through its straightforward structural design that people cross daily on foot or by bicycle.
The crossing is free and open for walking and bicycling, offering open views of the river along the entire journey. Since vehicles no longer use it, the pace feels relaxed and the surroundings much quieter than a regular roadway.
The bridge uses a counterweight system with steel cables that allow the center span to rise like an elevator for passing boats. This lifting mechanism represents an early engineering approach that few people encounter in working condition today.
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