President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Earth Rider Brewery in Superior, Wis., on Jan. 25, announcing that his staff has delivered on their promise to contribute more than $1 billion towards replacing the John A. Blatnik Memorial Bridge, which connects Superior to Duluth, Minn.
It was just under two years ago where Pres. Biden last visited Superior. There he announced his plan to invest in infrastructure across the United States at the Yellowjacket Union on Mar. 2, 2022.
This investment in infrastructure has been long expected since the House of Representative passed the infrastructure bill in a 228-206 vote, on Nov. 5, 2021.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will lot $550 billion over fiscal years 2022 to 2026 towards rebuilding transportation, updating alternatives for cleaner energy, providing broadband internet access to more rural communities, and updates to other existing policies.
MnDOT proposed the new bridge to replace traffic signals at the current I-535/US 53 intersection. Two roundabouts will connect Hammond Ave., N 3rd St., and Grand Ave. to the new bridge. | Photo courtesy of MnDOT
“This investment is creating good paying jobs, fixing our roads and bridge, making sure clean water is coming out of the faucets and connecting more Wisconsinites and Minnesotans with reliable high-speed internet,” said Wisconsin U.S. D-Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
Representatives from both Wisconsin and Minnesota attended the press event at Earth Rider Brewery, which sits at the Wisconsin end of the Blatnik Bridge. In 2023, both states contributed $400 million to pay for the estimated $1.8 billion the project is projected to be. The federal government announced $1.1 billion in aid to rebuild the bridge. “For decades people talked about replacing the bridge, but it never got done. Until today,” Biden said.
The Blatnik Bridge was first constructed in 1959 and opened to traffic in 1961. The bridge averages 33,000 vehicles each day and an estimated $4 billion in goods each year. “The flow of people so critical that small businesses rely on it,” Biden said. “Good customers, employers, goods, and businesses it’s critical.”
Business around the Twin Port rely on both the Blatnik Bridge and the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge to deliver goods and services. Earth Rider Brewery’s CEO Tim Nelson is a fourth-generation Superior native. “The bridge is critical to my business. The rebuilding of the bridge will be critical to my business’ growth and the growth of the local economy. That matters to the people here, it matters to our future.”
Along with the reconstruction of a new bridge, the project looks to add an additional 10,000 union construction jobs to the Twin Ports. The new bridge is planned to be wider, with shoulder pull-off space, creating more room for larger trucks and oversized loads. It’s also planned to add a pedestrian cycling path and slower and smoother on and off ramps.
Evers last visited Superior in Nov. of 2023, where he visited the University of Wisconsin-Superior and spoke about the need for workforce development.
“Growing our workforce is critically important in our state and I think it’s critically important at any place in the country,” said Evers. “This is a perfect example that we’re investing a billion plus dollars. But at the same time, we’re investing in our future because of the workers that are going to be on that sight. Something that the workers and people of Wisconsin are never going to forget.”
The new bridge is planned to be wider, with shoulder pull-off space, creating more room for larger trucks and oversized loads. It’s also planned to add a pedestrian cycling path and slower and smoother on and off ramps.
Protesters gathered outside of Earth Rider Brewery on Jan. 25, 2024, in support of Gaza , calling for President Biden to bring ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel. | Photo by Drew Kerner
The bridge looks to connect I-535 and Garfield Ave. in Duluth to US 53 in Superior. The new bridge will not connect onto Hammond Ave. in Superior. MINDOT crews plan for the new bridge to replace traffic signals at the current I-535/US 53 intersection. Two roundabouts will connect Hammond Ave., N 3rd St., and Grand Ave. to the new bridge.
“This bridge is important, but the story we’re writing is much bigger than that,” said Biden. “When you see the shovels in the ground and cranes in the sky and people hard at work, I hope you feel a renewed sense of pride.”
