Blatnik Bridge reconstruction begins with $1.8 billion project

Officials from Wisconsin and Minnesota have celebrated the groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the John A. Blatnik Bridge. The $1.8 billion project aims to replace the 60-year-old structure, which has faced significant safety, mobility, and capacity issues.

The project is supported by $1.058 billion in federal funding provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This funding was distributed via the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant fund, the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program, and the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program.

The bridge serves as a vital regional connection, with more than 33,000 vehicles and 265,000 trucks crossing it annually. The heavy truck traffic transports nearly $4 billion in goods each year, much of which is destined for the Port of Duluth-Superior, the largest U.S. port on the Great Lakes. The reconstruction will replace all structural elements to restore the bridge to its original operational condition.