(UPDATED) $1.05 billion delivered for Blatnik Bridge reconstruction

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The federal government will deliver more than $1.05 billion to replace the 65-year-old John A. Blatnik Bridge between Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced.

The bridge carries Interstate 535 across the St. Louis Bay and carries around 33,000 vehicles each day. Reconstruction of the bridge has been in planning for years, with the Minnesota Department of Transportation as project lead. MnDOT and Wisconsin transportation officials earmarked $400 million each in anticipation of more than $1.05 billion in federal funding to start construction.

Bids will open in June and a contractor will be selected in the summer, said Pippi Mayfield, a spokesperson for MnDOT. Construction on the largest public works project in Minnesota history will begin in the fall.

The project is expected to support 1,100 construction jobs and 1.5 to 1.75 million labor hours.

The states received federal funding in 2024 and needed U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to grant an amended agreement to start construction, state transportation officials said. The funding was released through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, officials added.

The $1.8 billion project will enter final design phases in 2026 through 2027, and construction is expected to begin in fall 2026. The bridge will fully close in 2027 and will remain closed for up to five years. Meanwhile, Minnesota and Wisconsin are looking to hire a contractor later this year.

The states will construct the new bridge on the same alignment as it exists now. There will be a new shared-use path for pedestrians and bicycles, and a new interchange into Superior will be built.

The funding announcement arrived after Democratic U.S. senators in Minnesota and Wisconsin sent a joint statement and letter calling for Duffy to execute funding. Gov. Tony Evers also called for funding to be released.

“As a son of Wisconsin, I know just how vital this bridge is to the future of Superior and Duluth,” Duffy, a former Wisconsin Congressman, said in a statement. “After months of hard work, our team is ready to get this money out the door and shovels in the dirt.”

“The Blatnik Bridge is a vital piece of infrastructure for both Wisconsin and Minnesota, and I’m excited that the full allotment of funding promised for this project is finally out the door so we can get started on the important upgrades this structure needs to support the millions of travelers who rely on it every day,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement. “I have been proud to champion this project for several years, and thanks to our work with Sen. Baldwin and our friends in Minnesota, we’re getting it done and getting it done right, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their continued partnership.”

“This is a major win for Minnesota and the Twin Ports,” said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in a statement. “Replacing the Blatnik Bridge will improve safety, strengthen our economy, and support thousands of good-paying jobs. This investment, signed into law by President Biden, should never have been put in jeopardy. Minnesota is ready to break ground and get this project started.”

“There is no good reason these funds should have been held up in the first place, and I am glad we forced the Trump Administration to do right by Wisconsin,” said Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin in a statement. “Rebuilding this bridge will mean 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. Wisconsin’s economy and the safety of families across the Midwest can’t wait any longer for this bridge to be rebuilt – so let’s get to work.”

“A safe and reliable Blatnik Bridge is critical for Minnesota’s economic future and for people across our entire region,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota in a statement. “Replacing this bridge will help Minnesotans who rely on it every day to get to work or to visit friends and family. We made the case to two Administrations on why this funding is so crucial, and now this incredibly important project can move forward without further unnecessary delays and increased costs.”

“The Blatnik Bridge project is the top priority project for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and securing this grant means the project can continue without delay,” said Nancy Daubenberger, commissioner of MnDOT, in a statement. “This project is happening because of a strong partnership between Minnesota, Wisconsin, local, tribal, and federal officials, our industry partners and our building trades. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners as we get closer to breaking ground and replacing this bridge.”

The Blatnik Bridge was built in 1961. It carries 265,000 trucks transporting nearly $4 billion in goods each year.