Wisconsin, Minnesota governors seek $1B to replace Blatnik Bridge

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Gov. Tony Evers and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday announced their transportation departments have asked the federal government for over $1 billion to replace the John A. Blatnik Bridge between Superior, Wis. and Duluth, Minn. This was the governors’ second request this year for federal funding to help replace the aging structure.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Minnesota Department of Transportation want to replace the bridge due to aging infrastructure conditions at the 62-year-old bridge. A joint report said officials plan to select a $1.72 billion design alternative for the 2027 start date.

The transportation agencies requested funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Bridge Investment Program (BIP). The program’s grants have been extended for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, federal officials said.

“For more than 60 years, the Blatnik Bridge has been a vital link for our communities and businesses. 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,” Evers said in a statement.

“The Blatnik Bridge is a critical connection point for transportation and commerce between Minnesota and Wisconsin—and it needs an upgrade,” Walz added.

WisDOT and MnDOT are recommending the first of four alternatives for Blatnik Bridge, involving a new shared use path for pedestrians and bicycles. The agencies will choose a selected alternative in 2024 and decide on a final design in 2025. Phased construction could start in 2025 with a complete bridge closure for four to five years.

Earlier this year, Evers signed a biennial budget which included $47.2 million in funding and $352.8 million in bonding to support the structure overhaul. Federal funding in the form of $7.5 million, stemming from the federal omnibus spending bill signed by President Joe Biden, is also available for replacing the bridge.

Both states expect to cover whatever the federal government doesn’t fund in this project. An agreement between WisDOT and MnDOT requires a 50-50 cost share for all border bridges, according to a report.

In 2022, the states applied for BIP but the bridge wasn’t selected for that round. This year, Evers and Walz also applied for a billion-dollar grant through USDOT’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Program. Both BIP and MDGP are part of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Our commitment to improving safety and the long-term sustainability of our bridges is unwavering. I know our partners at MnDOT share this sentiment. These grant applications and deepening shows of support—from local communities and elected officials in both states—demonstrate how important this project is and why we must act with urgency,” said Craig Thompson, secretary of WisDOT.