July 31, 2024

By Lane Kimble

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The most visually impressive work on the Blatnik Bridge won’t begin for another few years, but important steps to get to that point are beginning now.

MnDOT announced Monday it intends to start pile load testing in six spots between Duluth and Superior.  The tests, which use a crane with a pile driving hammer, will help designers craft stronger and more cost-effective foundations, MnDOT said.  The Department announced late last year it intends to use a design-build model on the Blatnik.

The aging Blatnik Bridge carries I-535 across the St. Louis Bay and connects the twin ports of Duluth and Superior, which are the busiest in all the Great Lakes.  It is the second largest bridge in Minnesota, but has become unsafe and has weight restrictions that significantly limit the billions of dollars in freight and commerce that flows throughout the region.

The Biden Administration awarded more than $1 billion in federal money for the project, while Wisconsin and Minnesota both contributed $400 million.

Despite MnDOT serving as lead agency, there is a fair amount of work to be done on the Wisconsin side of the project, specifically with a rebuild of the Highway 53 interchange.  WTBA has encouraged WisDOT leadership to push for some of that work to be let in Wisconsin.