John A. Blatnik Bridge

John A. Blatnik Bridge
Looking towards Duluth, Minnesota from Superior, Wisconsin near the Blatnik Bridge at night.
Coordinates46°44′57″N 92°06′05″W / 46.749133°N 92.101286°W / 46.749133; -92.101286
Carries4 lanes of I-535 / US 53
CrossesSaint Louis Bay
LocaleDuluth, MN, and Superior, WI
Maintained byMinnesota Department of Transportation
ID number9030
Characteristics
DesignThrough-arch
Total length7,975 feet (2,431 m)
Longest span600 feet (180 m)
History
Opened1961
Location
Map

The John A. Blatnik Bridge is the bridge that carries Interstate 535 (I-535) and U.S. Highway 53 (US 53) over the Saint Louis River, a tributary of Lake Superior, between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. The bridge is 7,975 feet (2,431 m) long and rises up nearly 120 feet (37 m) above the water to accommodate the seaway shipping channel. It was dedicated on December 2, 1961, but was renamed for Congressman John Blatnik on September 24, 1971, to commemorate Blatnik's role in making the bridge a reality. The Blatnik Bridge replaced a swinging toll bridge around the same location that carried both automobile and rail traffic.

The bridge was widened and the substructure was strengthened between 1992 and 1993 to accommodate hard shoulders. The Blatnik Bridge was reduced to two lanes temporarily in 2008, after it was discovered in a bridge inspection that the 1990s upgrades to the Blatnik Bridge had added weight beyond the load limit for gusset plates in eight different locations. This was similar to the gusset plates that caused the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis to collapse on August 1, 2007. The Blatnik Bridge was reduced to two lanes temporarily until the gusset plates could be strengthened.

In November 2011, both the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation installed new signs to remind drivers that trucks over 40 short tons (36 t) gross vehicle weight cannot use the Blatnik Bridge; these vehicles will be rerouted to the nearby Bong Bridge. According to the press release, permitted, overweight vehicles have been restricted from using the Blatnik Bridge since early 2008 when inspections showed that corrosion and time were starting to affect the structure. Transportation officials say that the bridge is aging and restriction of overweight vehicles will help to extend the life of the bridge. Drivers who disregard the posted weight limits will be ticketed.[1]

Almost 34,000 vehicles cross the road daily in 2017.[2] Further deteriorating of the bridge resulted in yearly inspections, rather than every two years by 2021. Major repair work was required every 4 years to keep the bridge open.[3] President Joe Biden visited the bridge in 2022 as part of a tour to boost the infrastructure bill signed the previous year.[4] The cost to replace the bridge is roughly estimated to cost $1.815 billion with construction beginning as soon as 2026.[5][6] Construction would last 5–7 years. The bridge currently empties to Hammond Ave in Superior but proposals for replacement would connect the bridge directly to US 53. The Blatnik Bridge would be completely closed during construction as the existing bridge will be demolished prior to construction of the replacement.

The Blatnik Bridge is one of three bridges connecting Duluth and Superior, one being the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge, a tied-arch bridge upriver from the Blatnik Bridge. The Bong Bridge carries U.S. Highway 2 (US 2) over the St. Louis Bay. The 3rd bridge is the Oliver Bridge connecting the Gary – New Duluth neighborhood in Duluth, Minnesota with the village of Oliver, Wisconsin. The bridge is 1,889 feet (576 m) long[1] and is principally of steel truss construction. The upper deck carries a single track rail line and a lower deck carries the road connecting Wisconsin Highway 105 to Minnesota State Highway 39.

President Joe Biden cited the bridge several times during his visit to Superior in March 2022 to tout his infrastructure plan, describing it as a "critical benefit" of the infrastructure law. On January 22, 2024, the United States Department of Transportation announced that it was awarding nearly $1.06 billion in federal funds under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to replace the bridge.[7][8]

Accidents

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On July 22, 2022, a 55-year-old man died after striking construction equipment on the Duluth-bound section of the bridge with his SUV at around 7:50 PM.[9]

On January 9, 2017, Duluth native Mark Anderson lost control of his Ford Ranger and plunged over the side of the Eastbound approach to the main span, falling 30–40 feet to the Port Terminal below. Anderson survived, with injuries and praised his Ranger saying, "...look how they hold up."[10][11] Anderson later died, on March 5, 2022, at the age of 59, of unrelated pancreatic cancer.[12]

Central Arch of the Blatnik Bridge
Blatnik Bridge looking towards Superior

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Burns, Krista (November 21, 2011). "Load Limit Signs on Blatnik Bridge". Duluth, MN: KBJR-TV/KDLH-TV. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
  2. ^ Mullen, David (March 23, 2019). "Duluth-to-Superior bridge could be replaced". Star Tribune. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  3. ^ Johnson, Brooks (January 16, 2021). "Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior headed toward retirement, replacement". Star Tribune. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ^ Slater, Brady (4 March 2022). "After Biden, now comes hard part for Blatnik Bridge". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Blatnik Bridge replacement cost: up to $1.815 billion". Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  6. ^ Lawler, Christa (July 20, 2022). "Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior to be rebuilt". Star Tribune. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  7. ^ "More than $1 billion awarded to Minnesota, Wisconsin bridge". Associated Press. January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  8. ^ INFRA AWARDS FY 2023-2024. Blatnik Bridge Replacement Project. INFRA Award: $1,058,398,200. Duluth, Minnesota, Superior, Wisconsin. Applicant: Minnesota Department of Transportation. U.S. Department of Transportation. p. 17. https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-05/INFRA%20Fact%20Sheets%20FY%202023-2024_Final%20%282%29.pdf
  9. ^ "Duluth man dies after Blatnik Bridge crash". Duluth News Tribune. July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "Duluth man survives truck's dive off Blatnik Bridge". Duluth News Tribune. 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  11. ^ Service, Brady Slater | Forum News (2017-01-11). "Driver survives as pickup truck plunges off Duluth's Blatnik Bridge". Twin Cities. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  12. ^ "'Immensely talented' Duluth guitarist dies at 59". Duluth News Tribune. 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
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