Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Celebrates Groundbreaking of Blatnik Bridge Following USDOT’s Billion Dollar Investment
Secretary Duffy ensured taxpayer dollars were not spent on DEI contracts as Representative Stuber secured union labor for the project
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today celebrated the groundbreaking of Blatnik Bridge on I-535 connecting Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, across the St. Louis Bay. This follows an over $1.05 billion investment from USDOT to replace the 65-year-old and the longtime advocacy of Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-8).
“The Trump Administration is proud to have contributed the critical dollars needed to start work on this vital bridge to support the Superior and Duluth economies,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Before awarding these dollars, the Department did the work to guarantee taxpayer funds would not support DEI-based contracts during construction. Taxpayer dollars must be spent efficiently and focus on the highest standards of safety, not meeting the Left’s political agenda. I want to thank Congressman Stauber for his tireless advocacy for this project on behalf of his constituents and Wisconsin neighbors which is a huge reason this rural community is getting the attention it deserves.”
“This project represents a strategic investment in supply chains that will reliably connect the Upper Midwest’s industrial heartland to global markets,” said Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. “As a centerpiece of the Administration's focus on large-scale transportation, the replacement project will unlock national economic benefits for generations to come.”
“Today’s groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone for the Northland,” said Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08). “Replacing the Blatnik Bridge has been a priority of mine since I was elected to Congress, which is why I brought our entire Minnesota delegation together and fought hard to bring these critical funds home. I am grateful to Secretary Duffy and the Department of Transportation for honoring St. Louis County’s tradition of supporting Minnesota labor by continuing the use of Project Labor Agreements. Because of this administration’s commitment to the American workforce, Minnesota’s future will be built by Minnesotans. I look forward to seeing the new bridge rise and deliver lasting benefits for the Twin Ports for generations to come.”
In January 2024, the last administration set aside dollars for the bridge project without doing any of the necessary work to award the funds leaving Minnesota and Wisconsin in the lurch. In March 2026, under Secretary Duffy, the Department announced it was at last able to obligate $1,058,398,200 to the bridge project after completing the necessary work to release the funds, including ensuring taxpayer dollars would not support DEI contracts.
Rep. Stauber also was critical in securing Project Labor Agreements to guarantee Blatnik Bridge will be rebuilt with union labor. Previously, Rep. Stauber led a bipartisan effort to get funds allocated after the Biden-Buttigieg team passed over Minnesota USDOT’s application for funding for the bridge.
Additional Information:
The Blatnik Bridge replacement project will replace the aging, mile-and-a-half-long I-535 bridge connecting Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. The new bridge will better serve the 33,000 vehicles that cross it each day and strengthen the reliability of the transportation network in the region.
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