The group was launched to support businesses during Blatnik Bridge reconstruction.
By Maria Lockwood April 16, 2025 Duluth News Tribune
DULUTH — Business leaders from Duluth and Superior kicked off a joint effort to connect, collaborate and support each other through the Blatnik Bridge reconstruction project during the Canal Park Business Association’s meeting Wednesday, April 16 at Hoops Brewing.
The Twin Ports Business Alliance is focused on not just surviving the multi-year project, but thriving.
“It’s a big bridge. We need to bring big bridge energy, right? We’re coming together as a community,” said Kelly Peterson, executive director of the Superior Business Improvement District.
She is part of a core group that has been meeting since January to launch the alliance. Other members include Jen Rossmann with the Canal Park Business Association, Cam Kruger with the Lincoln Park Business Group and Kate Ferguson with the Rice’s Point Business Group. Their goal is to grow the alliance to encompass the whole Twin Ports, providing a hub for project updates, business support and collaborative marketing opportunities.
“The point is communication and just getting everybody together and talking about this and start helping each other and wayfinding and, like, being good neighbors,” Rossmann said.
The work starts now, before the bridge closes.
“We can’t wait for those businesses to struggle and then figure out, oh, we have an issue. We’re working on that now,” Peterson said.
And they’re seeking input from all Twin Ports businesses.
“We’re looking at what can we do for free, quickly, right now. What can we get done with our small but mighty group and then what projects we see on the horizon and how do we need to get funding or plan to get to that,” Rossmann said.
The Twin Ports Business Alliance is a cross-state connection that hasn’t existed in the last four decades, if at all, Kruger said.
“Before I joined as the administrator for the business group I was a board member for 10 years and we’re like, ‘Why are we not collaborating with the other business groups?’” Kruger said. “And there were sort of starts and fits and meetings and it never manifested into anything remotely like we have now.”
Tony Bronson, president of the Canal Park Business Association, said he wanted to host the group’s kickoff to raise awareness of the team-building effort.
“I hope it’s something that continues after the bridge project, also. I think the more that these communities are tied together, the better for all of us. We all do better when we all do better,” Bronson said.
Bridge construction
Pippi Mayfield, Minnesota Department of Transportation deputy director of communications and public engagement, gave a brief overview of the bridge reconstruction project at the meeting. The Blatnik Bridge is scheduled to close for four to five years, beginning in 2027.
Mayfield discussed the changes that will be made to Superior streets to help ease traffic during construction, including temporary stoplights on Winter Street, ramps to the Bong Bridge and removing the ability to turn left at some downtown intersections.
“This is definitely disruptive, but we also see it as an opportunity. This is the largest project in both Minnesota and Wisconsin’s history,” Mayfield said.
At its peak, the project is expected to bring 150 construction workers and another 60 “overhead” staff like engineers and supervisors to the Twin Ports.
“We’re going to have a lot of people in town hosting, looking for lodging, restaurants, entertainment. One of the things we’re looking to do is potential boat tours during construction,” Mayfield said.
Instead of staying clear of the project, Peterson wants people to explore it.
“We want everyone to come and see and participate in the excitement of the bridge and every aspect of it. Building our community, working together, not just one city or another city, we’re two states, it’s our whole truly embracing that Twin Ports,” Peterson said.
The Superior Business Improvement District has a website page dedicated to information on the bridge project, with a familiar orange cone mascot. The mascot was used to connect Superior businesses and highlight updates during the 2013 Tower Avenue reconstruction project and the Belknap Street reconstruction project in 2017-2018. Now, it will help steer communications through the multi-year bridge closure.
“We’re not just surviving this, we’re going to thrive through this,” Peterson said.
Visit the Twin Ports Business Alliance Facebook page or the alliance page on the Superior Business Improvement District website for more information.