Blatnik Bridge Project Highlighted In Video Because Of Cooperative Efforts to Receive Funding
DULUTH, Minn. / SUPERIOR, Wisc. –The Blatnik Bridge is being featured in a video series being launched by the Federal Government. It is part of a Department of Transportation plan showing the importance of infrastructure projects.
Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation says the Blatnik stands out among the 45 thousand infrastructure projects that are being supported by the Biden infrastructure plan. It is one of the largest transportation projects and has a price tag of one billion dollars.
The DOT says the video was produced to highlight how working together helps everyone in the Twin Ports and beyond.
Buttigieg said, “I’m thrilled with this video because I think it’s really important. Tell the stories of this infrastructure work that comes off the page.”
“Too often the stories get lost in the statistics, and the policies and the programs, all of which are incredibly important, but the policies and programs matter because of the impact they’re going to have on the people who are impacted by this infrastructure, not the other way around,” said Buttigieg.
The video features the mayors of both Duluth and Superior. It also has the founder of Earth Rider Brewery, Tim Nelson. Earth Rider is where President Biden spoke during his visit in January.
In the video, Nelson said he contacted the secretary about the project. “Yeah, I did write a letter to Pete Buttigieg and just expressed our support of a project that helps us connect our communities,” Nelson said.
“I come across the bridge on a daily basis. I live in Duluth, work in Superior as do many of my employees and so do many of my suppliers. It’s just super important to have that bridge operable and safe for everyone,” said Nelson.
Buttigieg says the video and others that are planned will be used in Washington and throughout the country to show what can happen when people come together.
“We saw cooperation, across jurisdictional lines, across state lines, across that waterway, and even across party lines to get this bill passed,” said Buttigieg.
“That’s the kind of cooperation I think people would like to see a little more of in today’s policy world and certainly in today’s Washington. We want to remind people that it can happen and when it does, there are good results.”
