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Baldwin, Colleagues Urge President Biden to Rebuild the Blatnik Bridge

Letter

Date: Oct. 4, 2023
Location: Washington, D.C.
Issues: Infrastructure

Dear Mr. President:

We write in support of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Department of Transportations' application
for funding to replace the Blatnik Bridge.

The Blatnik Bridge, which you visited last year, is a critical transportation link carrying I-535
over the St. Louis Bay to connect the cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. Over
33,000 vehicles cross the bridge per day, including commuters and visitors. The Blatnik Bridge
is also an essential economic engine in the region and a key link in the global supply chain. Each
year, 265,000 trucks transporting nearly $4 billion in goods pass over the bridge. Many
businesses across the Upper Midwest rely on the bridge to reach the Port of Duluth-Superior, the
largest U.S. port on the Great Lakes and North America's farthest-inland freshwater seaport. It is
also one of the largest marine links for U.S. trade with Canada, the top trade partner of
Minnesota, Wisconsin and the whole United States.

The Blatnik Bridge opened in 1961 and has reached the end of its useful service life. It is in poor
condition and has significant structural deterioration. Bridge users experience lane closures and
other disruptions multiple times each year due to inspections and maintenance work, and the
bridge is currently ranked as the number one risk for service interruption in Minnesota. Since
2019, the bridge has been load posted for 40 tons and can no longer accommodate overweight
loads, and could be at risk for complete closure by 2030.

Federal funding would be used to replace all structural elements of the bridge, add a shared use
path for pedestrians, address safety concerns at bridge interchanges, and restore the bridge to its
original operational condition; improving the safety, efficiency, and reliability of this key
regional and global connection.

By funding needed updates to the Blatnik Bridge, we can make sure drivers have a safe way to
cross the St. Louis Bay for years to come. Thank you for your attention to this issue.

Sincerely,


Source
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