In an increasingly common refrain, three U.S. senators from Wisconsin and Minnesota are calling for the release of federal funds to allow the $1.8 billion replacement of the Blatnik Bridge, a key commuter and freight link between Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis., to move forward.
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) wrote a joint letter March 2 to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy demanding final approval and the release of a $1.05 billion federal grant for the project, which is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2026.
The bridge, which dates to the early 1960s, carries Interstate 535 and serves an average of 33,000 vehicles a day traveling across Bay St. Louis. It is essential for the movement of goods and commercial traffic serving the twin ports of Duluth and Superior, but has fallen into disrepair with significant structural deterioration, creating serious capacity, mobility and safety issues, the letter says.
“The people of Minnesota and Wisconsin who are planning to rebuild the Blatnik Bridge have dotted their I’s and crossed their T’s. Now is the time for the President and Secretary Duffy to give the final green light for this project to move forward so we can keep Wisconsinites safe and support the local economy,” Baldwin said.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, who jointly own the bridge, received the federal funding commitment in 2024 through the Jobs and Infrastructure Investment Act. State agencies plan to split the remaining costs and have each earmarked $400 million for the project. They submitted an amended grant agreement to USDOT in October 2025.
If federal funding is withheld, the cost of the project, including replacement that of the bridge structural elements and restore it to its original operating condition, will increase significantly, according to transport agencies.
“If the grant modification is not signed soon and construction of the new bridge is delayed, this will result in a large cost increase and a significant change in schedule. Inflation alone is estimated at $80 million annually for the project,” the agencies said.
In November 2025, the transportation agencies named a short list of contractors for the project: Ames Kramer Joint Venture II and Lunda Construction Company. A contractor is scheduled to be chosen on June 23, 2026.
Lawmakers’ plea for the release of federal funds is becoming familiar as the Trump administration withholds billions of dollars from major infrastructure projects, mostly in Democratic-led states and cities.
Affected projects include the $2.1 billion Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Extension of the red linethe $1.2 billion Great Lakes Asian carp barrier project in Illinois, and the $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project (Gateway Program) in New York/New Jersey.
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) said in a statement that he expects the federal funds to come, but did not predict when.
“The reconstruction of the Blatnik Bridge has bipartisan support from the Wisconsin and Minnesota delegations, and I am confident that the Trump administration will succeed in completing this important project. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy understands how vital this bridge is to the Twin Ports and will work to ensure its replacement,” he said.
If not replaced, the bridge is expected to close completely by 2030, state officials said.
