Officials Break Ground on $1.8 Billion Blatnik Bridge Replacement

State and federal officials held a groundbreaking ceremony on August 31 to launch the $1.8 billion replacement of the John A. Blatnik Bridge, which connects Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. The project replaces a 1961 structure that currently carries over 33,000 vehicles daily and nearly $4 billion in annual freight.

Sean P. Duffy, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, released $1.05 billion in federal grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund the project, alongside $400 million contributions from both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Duffy stated that the Department of Transportation ensured taxpayer funds would not support "DEI-based contracts" before awarding the grant.

The contract was awarded to Ames-Kraemer Joint Venture II, with oversight provided by Parsons Corp. The new 8,300-foot tied arch bridge is expected to employ 1,100 workers annually. Construction will occur in phases, and while the existing bridge remains open for now, it is scheduled to close in February or March 2027 for four to five years.

The new bridge is slated to open to traffic in the fall of 2031, with full project completion expected by 2032. During the ceremony, Governors Tim Walz and Tony Evers, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tammy Baldwin, emphasized the project's role in supporting 21st-century economic needs and regional labor.