Groundbreaking launches the $1.8 billion replacement of the Blatnik Bridge
State and federal officials have launched the $1.8 billion replacement of the aging bridge linking Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin.
State and federal officials formally launched construction of the John A. Blatnik Bridge replacement on August 31, 2026, beginning a $1.8 billion project that will rebuild one of the most important connections between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. The project is jointly funded by Minnesota and Wisconsin, with $1.05 billion coming from federal funding, and construction is expected to begin this year according to the Duluth News Tribune and Superior Telegram.
The existing bridge dates to 1961 and is nearing the end of its service life. It carries more than 33,000 vehicles each day, including freight and commercial traffic, but it can no longer carry overweight freight loads. The replacement project therefore is not just a routine modernization: it is meant to restore a major regional route whose current structure has become a constraint on the movement it was built to support.
That constraint will become more visible once construction reaches the main bridge. The bridge is expected to close completely for roughly four to five years beginning in early 2027, although the existing crossing will remain open until then. The closure will make the transition unavoidable for drivers and freight operators, but it also creates the uninterrupted work window needed to replace the aging structure rather than keep extending its life through piecemeal repairs.
MnDOT’s project plan includes more than a new bridge deck and support structure. The finished connection is planned to include a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, along with a new interchange in Superior. The department’s schedule lays out phased construction from 2026 through 2031, with the bridge serving as a 33,000-vehicle-per-day freight and commercial connection throughout the region’s transportation network.
The sources differ slightly on when the project will be finished. The Duluth News Tribune reports that the replacement is expected to open in fall 2031, while CBS describes the overall project as scheduled to be done in 2032. MnDOT’s schedule offers a plausible explanation for the discrepancy: construction runs through 2031, while cleanup and landscaping continue into 2032. In practical terms, the new crossing can open in 2031 even if the full project remains active the following year.
That makes the groundbreaking more consequential than a ceremonial start. A bridge that has carried daily traffic for decades is entering its final operating phase, followed by a long full closure and a replacement designed to handle modern freight, commercial movement, and shared use. If the schedule holds, the region should have a new crossing open in fall 2031, with the remaining site work completed in 2032.