Senator Baldwin Delivers Over $1 Billion to Replace the Blatnik Bridge
After two years of advocating, Baldwin delivered Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to replace vital bridge for Wisconsin's economy and safety
Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that Wisconsin and Minnesota will receive more than $1.05 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to replace the Blatnik Bridge. In addition to voting for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Baldwin has been pushing the Biden Administration for nearly two years to fund the project to replace the over 60-year-old Blatnik Bridge connecting Superior to Duluth.
“This is what delivering for Wisconsin looks like. I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bring federal resources back to Wisconsin, and now we are seeing the results pay off. I have been pushing the Biden Administration at every turn to fund this project because a new Blatnik Bridge is critical for our economy, safety, and way of life,” said Senator Baldwin. “With this investment, we can ensure that billions of dollars’ worth of products can get to market efficiently, families can get to work on time, and millions of travelers get to their destinations safely.”
“I have been glad to work closely with Senator Baldwin and other state and federal partners to secure the necessary investments to replace the Blatnik Bridge here at the end of its service life, and I’m proud to be able to say today that our hard work has paid off,” said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. “We’re excited to celebrate this award today and what it means for our state, our workforce and economy, and the quality of life in Northern Wisconsin. I want to thank Senator Baldwin and Governor Walz for their partnership
in championing this project to get this done for our states, and I look forward to our continued work together toward ensuring our infrastructure is built to meet the needs of a 21st-century workforce and economy.”
The Blatnik Bridge is a vital connection between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, with over 33,000 vehicles passing through daily and 265,000 trucks transporting nearly $4 billion in goods annually. After more than 60 years of heavy usage, the bridge has suffered from significant structural deterioration, leading to capacity, mobility, and safety concerns. In March 2022, President Biden visited the Blatnik Bridge to highlight the passage of the Baldwin-supported Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the impact of the investment in our bridges on local communities and economies.
Since the passage of the Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Baldwin has been advocating for Wisconsin to receive federal funds to replace the Blatnik
Bridge.
- March 2022: Senator Baldwin joined President Biden in Superior to highlight Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments in bridges on local communities and economies and advocate for funding to replace the Blatnik Bridge.
- December 2022: Senator Baldwin secured $7.5 million for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to replace the Blatnik Bridge through the annual budget process.
- June 2023: Senator Baldwin and Governor Evers along with Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson and Superior Mayor Jim Paine visited Superior to highlight the continued need to replace the Blatnik Bridge and urge the Biden administration to invest in the project.
- August 2023: Senator Baldwin called on the Biden Administration to support Wisconsin and Minnesota’s application for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for the project.
- October 2023: Senator Baldwin joined a bipartisan group of eight Minnesota and Wisconsin legislators to urge President Biden to support Minnesota and Wisconsin’s application for federal funding to rebuild the Blatnik Bridge.
- December 2023: Senator Baldwin again voiced her support for the Blatnik Bridge and announced her support for Wisconsin and Minnesota’s second application for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin
Baldwin Announces $4.9 Million to Protect and Restore Wisconsin’s Coastal Habitats
Apr 23rd, 2024 by U.S. Sen. Tammy BaldwinFunding from Baldwin-backed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will increase resilience to climate change and extreme weather events
Hardly a week goes by that Sen. Baldwin has not been involved in initiatives that support Wisconsin businesses or residents. We truly have a hardworking advocate for Wisconsin. She reminds me of Paul Wellstone of Minnesota. Wellstone’s raison d’etre was to help Minnesotans make their lives, families, and communities better.
Hilarious to see the reaction to Pete Stauber, the Minnesota GOP congressman who sent out a celebratory press release on the new bridge. He was quickly and emphatically reminded that he voted against the Instrastructure bill, which he called “a destructive and irreversible path towards socialism.” Now he takes credit for good stuff funded by it — pathetic.
Eagerly awaiting Tom Tiffany’s statement on the bridge, which is in his district.
Our family home was displaced for the construction of the High Bridge (which is what Wisconsin residents call the “Blatnik Bridge”). The bridge was poorly designed and didn’t allow for pedestrian or bicycle access and emergency lanes. The poor design has been the cause of numerous unnecessary automobile accidents. Its replacement is sorely needed by residents of Superior and Duluth.
Thanks Tammy Baldwin.
Toxic Tom Tiffany finally heard from. Reacting to Biden’s visit to Superior (from the MJS):
Rep. Tom Tiffany, whose northwestern Wisconsin district includes Superior, said it was “great” that the Blatnik Bridge was going to be improved but said it shouldn’t cost $1 billion in federal funds to do so, attacking Biden for being “hostile to mining” and over how the government approves new infrastructure projects.
Tiffany voted against the infrastructure bill.
Not mentioned in this press release is that Wisconsin and Minnesota are each contributing $500 million to constructing this new bridge.
I’d like to see her dump the usual campaign formats,
and make her accomplishments the centerpiece.
Picture a full database of everything she has accomplished,
sorted by type, date, dollar value/dollars saved,
demographics and number of citizens served,
location(s) served, ripple effects by type and dollars etc.
Cross-reference this any and every way a voter could want,
Mention the length of time she’s been in office.
Include prior experience.
Then challenge her opponent to do the same.
Give the campaign a theme name emphasizing
performance vs. promises, and record vs. rhetoric
Tammy is a mixed bag at best. Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of our greatest generals
and a decent president, warned that the military-industrial complex was a threat to democratic government. His words, not mine.
Tammy Baldwin has never seen a defense budget she
did not vote for. President Eisenhower described the threat, Baldwin could care less. Is
she better than most Republicans? Maybe. As long as she votes for these massive
defense budgets, she puts our democracy at risk. No matter who we vote for, the military
wins and we lose.
ZeeManMke, Point taken.
Marty Ellenbecker, your idea is an excellent one! it should be applied to all candidates
in all races. Too often candidates lie about what they said or did in the past or in office.
All these MAGAnuts are now claiming responsibility for infrastructure projects they
voted against. The same goes for candidates or any party. If you lie to people you
should be exposed.
ZeeManMke,
Let’s take it even further – how about making it normal to lean on every candidate
who says “my opponent voted (for/against) a bill that would (allow/prevent)
blah blah blah” to state the number of the bill mentioned.
Often there is a better bill in the pipeline, findings of a report to wait for,
amendments waiting, a poison pill attached to the bill in question or a deal made with a another politician to cooperate on a more important bill.
Devils love hiding behind details