Fieldwork to begin for Blatnik Bridge replacement design
May 16—SUPERIOR — People may notice work around the Blatnik Bridge this summer.
It's fieldwork for the preliminary design to frame the project that will replace the bridge that opened to traffic in 1961.
Fieldwork planned for this year includes pile load testing, preliminary pier design investigations, geotechnical investigations and environmental testing for contamination.
The site that's going to be most prevalent on the Wisconsin side is going to be in the loop to the right of the bridge, said Marc Bowker of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The Wisconsin and Minnesota transportation departments are partnering on the project with Minnesota taking the lead.
The preliminary design will establish the "box" for the final design that will be completed by the contractor chosen to construct the bridge, Bowker said.
The DOTs selected a design-build delivery method for the project. The method was chosen because it allows for efficient coordination between the design and construction teams, which is important for the shipping channel. The method typically results in lower cost growth after construction begins, fewer construction claims and delays and allows for alternative design and construction innovation. MnDOT used that method to replace the Hastings Bridge and Interstate 35 West bridges over the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers.
"What that does is it provides opportunities for that designer and contractor to work together and come up with possibly more efficient ways of doing things," said Vincent Gastoni of Parsons, a consultant working on the Blatnik Bridge replacement project. He said that could accelerate construction and make improvements to the project.
On the Minnesota side of the bridge, Bowker said there will be a modified access to the port terminal. The biggest change will be on the Wisconsin site of the bridge, though, where the bridge would connect directly to State Highway 53 for the bulk of traffic. With the new alignment, interchanges would allow access to Hammond Avenue, and Third Street to the east and west of the bridge, he said.
The plan calls for the removal of the existing bridge and building the new bridge on the existing alignment.
Bowker said the alignment was selected because it has fewer impacts to property and wetlands, reduces the cost, shortens the overall construction time and allows the work to be done more safely.
The Blatnik Bridge would likely close in the first quarter of 2027, Bowker said, with the new bridge likely to open in 2032.
With traffic expected to be diverted to the Bong Bridge for the duration of construction, Bowker said part of the preliminary design includes a traffic management plan.
The estimated $1.8 billion bridge would be paid for with
$1.058 billion in federal funds
made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $400 million committed by each of the legislatures in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The Minnesota and Wisconsin transportation departments have also applied for additional grant funding and hope to hear by summer if those grant applications were successful, Bowker said.
