The Trump administration is making good on a major infrastructure promise, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy formally delivering $1,058,398,200 to replace the 65-year-old Blatnik Bridge on I-535, which spans St. Louis Bay between Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota.
The announcement, made March 18, ends a lengthy delay that began under the Biden administration, which had set aside the funds in January 2024 but never completed the work required to actually obligate them — leaving the project stranded in what Secretary Duffy has called an “unprecedented Biden-Buttigieg backlog” of 3,200 undelivered grants.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are delivering critical dollars to rural America,” Duffy said. “As a son of Wisconsin, I know just how vital this bridge is to the future of Superior and Duluth. After months of hard work, our team is ready to get this money out the door and shovels in the dirt.”
A Bridge Long Overdue for Replacement
The Blatnik Bridge carries more than 33,000 vehicles daily, serving as a critical artery for commerce, commuting, and supply chains across the Twin Ports region. At 65 years old, the structure has long been identified as a replacement priority.
Minnesota Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), who led a bipartisan push to secure the funding after the Biden DOT passed over Minnesota DOT’s original application, celebrated the milestone. “For decades, the Blatnik Bridge has carried 33,000 vehicles daily, serving as a vital lifeline for commerce and commuting between the Twin Ports and the broader region,” Stauber said. “Soon, we will see the launch of a project that will create union jobs, ensure stronger supply chains for industries, and guarantee smoother and safer commutes for workers and tourists.”
Duffy Made the Promise — Then Kept It
Secretary Duffy publicly committed to delivering the funds just last week while touring Rep. Derrick Van Orden‘s district in Monroe County, Wisconsin. “It’s a bridge that needs to be built, and it’s a bridge that I care about and it’s a bridge I want to get built,” Duffy said during that visit.
The Trump DOT followed through days later — a stark contrast to the Biden-era handling of the project, during which the funds sat un-obligated for over a year despite being publicly announced. (RELATED: Rebecca Cooke Fundraises With ‘Sanctuary City Architect’ Rahm Emanuel Amid Immigration Controversy)
The Blatnik Bridge replacement is now poised to move forward, with construction expected to bring union jobs to the region and long-term economic benefits to communities on both sides of the state line. (RELATED: Wisconsin Democrats Reintroduce Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill)
