[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers today announced their departments of transportation will seek over $1 billion in federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to rebuild the John A. Blatnik Bridge between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin.

“The Blatnik Bridge connects the Twin Ports communities and economies of Duluth and Superior – it provides a vital route for regional commerce, tourism, and emergency services,” said Governor Walz. “I’m proud to partner with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and our colleagues at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to rebuild and modernize this critical piece of infrastructure as quickly as possible.”

“In partnership with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, our departments of transportation are ready to take advantage of this federal funding to make critical investments in the Blatnik Bridge,” saidGovernor Evers. “This bridge project is a strong candidate for this funding and improvements will create a positive ripple effect throughout the region. The bridge improvements will foster regional economic growth but also bolster national supply chains and strengthen the reliability of the transportation network that serves hundreds of communities across northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. We look forward to working with the folks in Minnesota to improve this crucial infrastructure connection.”

For more than 60 years, the Blatnik Bridge has served as a vital link between Duluth and Superior via Interstate 535 and US 53. Jointly owned and managed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), the Blatnik Bridge is an important freight and commercial connection between the Duluth-Superior Twin Ports and serves more than 33,000 cars per day. The replacement project will improve safety and accommodate oversize and overweight loads.

“The Blatnik Bridge is rated as Minnesota’s highest risk for service disruption and replacing the bridge prior to 2030 is a top priority,” said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “A new Blatnik Bridge will improve travel reliability and freight access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide good-paying jobs for local residents. MnDOT is grateful to our federal partners for their consideration and look forward to working with our partners at WisDOT to build the modern and reliable Blatnik Bridge that the Twin Ports deserves.”

“The Blatnik Bridge is overdue for an upgrade, and we are ready to act and no longer rely on regular maintenance efforts,” saidWisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson . “This federal funding will reinforce our commitment to invest in the existing infrastructure and rebuild this important route between our two states. Local residents and businesses rely on the Blatnik Bridge every day and any closures or traffic delays for maintenance work directly impacts their livelihood. Together with MnDOT, our improvements will provide a safe crossing to benefit transportation for decades to come.”

Each state recently committed $400 million and plans to seek additional federal funds to get the project over the finish line.

The Blatnik Bridge is a major freight asset for the national economy. Each year, it carries nearly 265,000 trucks transporting $2.66 billion in domestic goods and $1.07 billion in international goods coming and going from 42 states and nine Canadian provinces. The nearby Twin Ports is the largest port on the Great Lakes and the 17th largest port in the United States. The Port accommodates the maritime transportation needs of a wide range of industries including agriculture, forestry, mining and manufacturing, construction, power generation, and passenger cruising.

MnDOT and WisDOT have been working on this project since 2020 and plan to reveal the recommended alternative for replacing the 8,000-foot structure – Minnesota’s second and Wisconsin’s third longest bridge – in October.

The federal IIJA funding will be allocated to a substantial portion of the project’s budget and streamline scheduling. Design work for the project, which would determine specifications and shape the total cost of the project, is anticipated to begin in 2024. Once a final design is selected, construction is planned to begin in 2027 if full funding is secured.