Construction is officially underway on the replacement of the Blatnik Bridge, the Interstate 535 connection between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. A groundbreaking ceremony held Monday marked the start of a project expected to continue through 2032.
The bridge is an important commercial route through the Twin Ports. More than 265,000 trucks carrying nearly $4 billion in goods cross it each year, along with an average of about 33,000 vehicles each day.
New Bridge Will Replace 65-Year-Old Crossing.
The John A. Blatnik Bridge opened in 1961 and carries I-535 across the St. Louis Bay. It is one of two highway bridges connecting Duluth and Superior and is jointly owned and managed by the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation.
Plans call for replacing the aging structure rather than rehabilitating the existing bridge. Minnesota is leading the project in partnership with Wisconsin, with more than $1 billion in federal funding awarded in early 2024 and additional funding coming from both states.
Project Includes Changes for Commercial Traffic
The replacement is designed to address several limitations of the existing bridge, including restrictions affecting heavier commercial vehicles. The new crossing will be built to better accommodate oversize and overweight loads while updating the roadway and bridge infrastructure between the two cities.
That is particularly significant for freight moving through the Twin Ports area, where I-535 provides access between northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The bridge also connects traffic serving the ports and surrounding industrial areas on both sides of the state line.
Construction Expected to Continue Through 2032
The project will take several years to complete, with completion currently expected in 2032. Construction will include the new bridge as well as related improvements to the I-535 corridor approaching the crossing.
Drivers traveling between Duluth and Superior should expect construction activity in the area as work progresses. Project schedules, traffic impacts, and detour information will be provided by transportation officials throughout the different stages of construction.
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Last Updated: September 4, 2026
Source: The Trucker
