Investing in America: The Twin Ports

Built in the 1960s, the Blatnik Bridge, which connects Duluth, MN, and Superior, WI, is often referred to as the “Twin Ports.” The bridge is a vital freight, commercial, and pedestrian connection between the two communities. It provides mobility for local, regional, and international commerce, as well as serving the general population. Every year, 950,000 trucks use the bridge to carry 3.4 billion tons of goods all the way across America and into Canada. But due to its condition, this bridge can no longer accommodate overweight and oversized loads and without investment, the Blatnik Bridge was expected to close by 2030 due to safety concerns. The Biden-Harris Administration awarded the project $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This project will address the significant structural deterioration, improve safety concerns at the interchange on either end of the bridge, provide a new, safe multimodal connection between the communities, and improve overall operational performance. It will also support 10,000 jobs.