New Sign Added to Blatnik Bridge Ahead of Biden Visit to Superior

I take the Blatnik Bridge every day to and from the radio station, and yesterday on my way home I noticed a new sign was put up for President Biden's visit to Superior.

The new sign was placed on the ramp from Garfield Ave. to access the bridge during construction, the sign reads "Project Funded by President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law". The sign also includes the logos for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the federal Department of Transportation.

The sign also includes the "Investing in America" logo that the Biden Administration is using to promote the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" more commonly known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” The law, passed and sign by Biden in 2021, provides $550 billion in federal funding for projects through 2026.

At least $1 billion of that money will go to replace the aging Blatnik Bridge, the estimated cost to replace the bridge is $1.8 billion, the remaining funds will be split by Minnesota and Wisconsin, both of which have already approved the funding.

The work to replace the 60-year-old bridge is already underway, MNDOT says that phased construction will happen between 2025 and 2032 with the bridge expected to be completely closed 4–5 years.

The sign was placed the morning of Biden's visit and was on his route from Duluth to Superior, during his visit to Earth Rider Brewery Biden said, "Two years later, I came back to the Blatnik Bridge. I was here two years ago.It’s a vital link in our nation’s economy. Every year, 950,000 trucks use the bridge to carry 3.4 billion tons of goods all the way across America and into Canada. Folks, every day 33,000 ve- — vehicles cross that bridge."