May 9, 2024

By Lane Kimble

A public meeting next week will set the stage for actual construction to begin on replacing the Blatnik Bridge between Superior and Duluth.

MnDOT and WisDOT will hold a joint informational session Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 5 p.m. in the Superior Public Library.  The meeting will cover the latest construction schedule, various federal documents necessary for the project’s approval, and a question-and-answer session.  Full-on construction won’t begin until 2026, but there will be soil testing and preparation work beginning this summer.

In early March, the Federal Highway Administration signed off on a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) document, which states the bridge project will not adversely affect the environment or people in the area.

The 1.5-mile Blatnik Bridge was built in 1961 and is nearing the end of its life.  Without a replacement, MnDOT says the bridge would have to close by 2030.  It also has a high crash rate and has been posted for weight restrictions since 2019.

About 28,000 vehicles use the bridge every day and it helps service the largest port on the Great Lakes.

MnDOT announced late last year it would use the Design-Build method to replace the bridge.

The new Blatnik will run along the same general alignment as the current bridge, but will add a protected multi-use path. That alternative was one of five options the department considered.

A video update will appear on this page for anyone who cannot attend the in-person meeting.