Billion-Dollar Federal Grant Announced To Replace Blatnik Bridge

TWIN PORTS — Minnesota Congressman Pete Stauber announced a one-billion-dollar federal grant has been awarded to Duluth and Superior to replace the Blatnik Bridge.

The money totaling $1,058,398,200 from the U.S. Department of Transportation will address geometric deficiencies, increase capacity, and create a new shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians to access both states easily according to a press release.

In a statement sent out Monday around 11 a.m. Stauber said:

“By connecting Duluth, Minnesota to Superior Wisconsin, the Blatnik Bridge has helped drive our Twin Ports economy for the past six decades. The Blatnik Bridge is aging, and its restoration is essential to ensuring continued economic success, which is why I have long fought for these funds. Securing the money to help replace this bridge has been a top priority for both states, and I am proud to have worked with my Minnesota and Wisconsin Congressional colleagues to secure this critical investment. I look forward to seeing this project benefit countless industries, employers, health care patients, commuters, and tourists for years to come.”

An estimated costs for Blatnik Bridge Reconstruction Project is $1.8 billion.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin also announcing the news Monday. Baldwin has been pushing for 2 years to fund the over 60-year-old bridge’s replacement.

“This is what delivering for Wisconsin looks like. I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring federal resources back to Wisconsin, and now we are seeing the results pay off. I have been pushing the Biden Administration at every turn to fund this project because a new Blatnik Bridge is critical for our economy, safety, and way of life,” said Senator Baldwin in a press release. “With this investment, we can ensure that billions of dollars’ worth of products can get to market efficiently, families can get to work on time, and millions of travelers get to their destinations safely.”