DULUTH, Minn. – A groundbreaking ceremony that will kick off the replacement of the Blatnik Bridge took place on Monday.
Governor Tim Walz said that more than 265,000 trucks carrying nearly $4 billion in goods each year along with 33,000 cars travel over the bridge.
“Starting today, it’s getting some much needed upgrades – a historic investment in Minnesota’s future,” Walz said.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy attended Monday’s groundbreaking of Blatnik Bridge on I-535 connecting Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, across the St. Louis Bay. This follows an over $1.05 billion investment from USDOT to replace the 65-year-old bridge.
Duffy stated that the Trump Administration “contributed the critical dollars needed to start work on this vital bridge to support the Superior and Duluth economies.”
“This project represents a strategic investment in supply chains that will reliably connect the Upper Midwest’s industrial heartland to global markets,” said Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. “As a centerpiece of the Administration’s focus on large-scale transportation, the replacement project will unlock national economic benefits for generations to come.”
The John A. Blatnik Bridge, one of two bridges that connects Duluth, Minn., to Superior, Wis., opened to traffic in 1961 and carries I-535 over the St. Louis Bay. The Blatnik Bridge is an important freight and commercial connection between the Twin Ports.
Jointly owned and managed by MnDOT and WisDOT, it is Minnesota’s second-longest bridge and serves an average of 33,000 cars traveling between the two cities each day. In early 2024, the two agencies received more than $1 billion in federal funding to replace the aging bridge. Both states are also contributing funding for the project. MnDOT will lead the bridge replacement project, which will address aging infrastructure, improve safety and better accommodate oversize/overweight loads.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone for the Northland,” said Republican Congressman Pete Stauber. “Replacing the Blatnik Bridge has been a priority of mine since I was elected to Congress, which is why I brought our entire Minnesota delegation together and fought hard to bring these critical funds home. I am grateful to Secretary Duffy and the Department of Transportation for honoring St. Louis County’s tradition of supporting Minnesota labor by continuing the use of Project Labor Agreements. Because of this administration’s commitment to the American workforce, Minnesota’s future will be built by Minnesotans. I look forward to seeing the new bridge rise and deliver lasting benefits for the Twin Ports for generations to come.”
The completion of the bridge is expected by 2032.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
