Wisconsin and Minnesota transportation officials are seeking over $1 billion in federal funding to rebuild an aging bridge connecting Duluth, Minn and Superior, Wisc.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers recently jointly announced the funding request for the Blatnik Bridge project.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) are seeking funding through U.S. DOT’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) program.
Both grant programs are part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
The governors told Bring Me the News they are glad to partner on efforts to rebuild the bridge, which provides a critical connection point for transportation and commerce between the states.
“For more than 60 years, the Blatnik Bridge has been a vital link for our communities and businesses," said Evers to Bring Me the News.
"But as the bridge reaches the end of its service life, its condition continues to deteriorate—and it’s time for us to exhaust every opportunity to replace this crucial connector with a safer, more efficient, and more reliable structure for the next generation," said Evers.
According to the MnDOT, the design of the existing bridge hinders freight and vehicle mobility and higher-than-average crash rates demonstrate safety issues.
The project timeline depends on funding, but MNDOT officials hope to break ground in 2026.
-------------------------------------
Source: Bring Me the News
