Nathaniel Nelson / Winonan

Sen. Al Franken visited Winona on Saturday, Aug. 27 for the new bridge dedication ceremony, followed by a tour on Winona State University’s boat, the Cal Fremling.

Ahead of schedule and under budget, the new bridge spanning the Mississippi River between Wisconsin and Winona was officially opened with a procession and ceremony led by Winona Mayor Mark Peterson.

Under an imposing melancholy sky, a crowd numbering in the hundreds gathered to celebrate with optimistic sincerity, as this symbol of the future of Winona finally felt the footsteps of its residents.

“This is truly a historic day,” Peterson said in a speech.

Peterson was joined by Senators Franken and Amy Klobuchar, along with others who helped make the bridge, during a small presentation of speeches and gratitude.

Channeling his inner comedian, Franken recounted a time in 2008 when he was asked on a St. Cloud-based radio station what the most beautiful city in Minnesota was.

Without thinking, he said Winona.

“It took me a beat to go ‘Oh no, you should’ve said St. Cloud,’ but then I realized that no one in St. Cloud thinks that St. Cloud is the most beautiful city,” he joked. “They went ‘This guy’s genuine!’”

As the boat tour continued, Franken elaborated on his love for the city.

He said southeastern Minnesota is unique in the state, thanks to the bluffs and lack of glacial lakes.

As for Winona, Franken said he has more of a personal connection to the river city.

“I just remember as a kid coming down here every fall to see the colors,” he said. “It’s probably some type of sentimental attachment as well.”

After a quick thank you to the people who helped to build the bridge, Franken went on to praise the new bridge as a construction that will benefit both Winona and Wisconsin, and as a project representing a community coming together.

Winona State president Scott Olson was also in attendance. According to Olson, the historic bridge standing beside the new one has been an important part of Winona State iconography for years.

“We serve not only Southeastern Minnesota, but Wisconsin as well,” he said. “That bridge is a symbol that represents the journey that students take.”

As for the new bridge’s design, Olson spoke highly of the design, praising the minimal and sleek aesthetics. He pointed out the wide walkway as one of the bridge’s finest features.

“It’s not just a bridge for cars, but for pedestrians as well,” Olson said. “And we hope all our students will continue to take advantage of the beauty of Winona.”

Franken joined Olson and guests aboard the Cal Fleming for a short trip along the river.

Michael Delong, biology professor at Winona State, led a presentation on the importance of the Cal Fremling to the university.

The presentation covered multiple topics, including the importance of the slack or still  waters and the increased frequency of extreme events.

The Cal Fremling is used as a vehicle for biology students at Winona State to study DNA in the river and perform experiments on the contents of water without a current.

Following a presentation by MNDOT on the historic bridge restoration, President Olson invited the guests to the roof of the Cal Fremling for the last two presentations and for a prime view of the riverbanks.

Franken left with a high opinion of Cal Fremling and the biology department at Winona State.

“I love the fact that they’re actually doing science. They’re actually finding the DNA in the water, and they’re doing experiments where they don’t know what the answer is,” Franken said. “The river is so central to our state, and obviously to the city, [the boat] is a great asset.”

While there are shortages in the workforce that need to be filled, he said, there will always be a necessity for education in all fields, emphasizing the importance of Liberal Arts.

“A friend of mine said the brain is not a mind, and the mind is not a soul, and that is why we need the arts,” he said, adding that technology can have a driving effect on society. “There’s going to be a lot of changes in higher education as we move forward.”