Senator Baldwin Backs Wisconsin’s Application for Federal Funding to Replace the Blatnik Bridge

WISCONSIN – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) continues to call on the Biden Administration to replace the John A. Blatnik Bridge and announced her support for Wisconsin and Minnesota’s latest application for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to rebuild the critical bridge connecting Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota.

“I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring federal funding home to Wisconsin to repair our roads and replace outdated bridges—like the Blatnik Bridge,” said Senator Baldwin. “The bridge is a crucial link between Minnesota and Wisconsin, supporting our supply chain, commuters, and visitors. I am proud to support Wisconsin’s application for funding to replace the Blatnik Bridge and invest in our economy, safety, and future.”

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) applied for more than $1 billion in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Bridge Investment Program (BIP) to replace the deteriorating bridge. The Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made over $12.5 billion available through the USDOT’s BIP. President Biden visited the Blatnik Bridge in 2022, and touted that the $12.5 billion investment will help fix the most economically significant bridges in the country, like the Blatnik Bridge.

This is the second federal grant jointly sought by the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota to replace this critical Midwest transportation structure. Earlier this year, Senator Baldwin voiced her support for Wisconsin’s federal grant application for more than $1 billion through the USDOT’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) program, also funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Since the MPDG grant submission in August, Senator Baldwin joined a bipartisan group of eight Minnesota and Wisconsin legislators urging President Biden to support Minnesota and Wisconsin’s application for federal funding to rebuild the Blatnik Bridge.

The Blatnik Bridge is a vital connection between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, with over 33,000 vehicles passing through daily and 265,000 trucks transporting nearly $4 billion in goods annually. After more than 60 years of heavy usage, the bridge has suffered from significant structural deterioration, leading to capacity, mobility, and safety concerns.

###