Press Release: Pippi Mayfield, Communication and Engagement Deputy Director, MnDOT
DULUTH, Minn. – More work is planned this fall, including placing new pavement markings on Hwy 2 (Belknap Street) in Superior and connecting ramps of Hwy 2 with I-35 in Duluth, in preparation for the closure of the Blatnik Bridge in early 2027.
Beginning as early as next week, crews from Ames-Kraemer Joint Venture II (AKJV) will complete lane reconfiguration and traffic signal work on Hwy 2 (Belknap Street) in Superior and entrance/exit lane reconfiguration where Hwy 2 connects with I-35 and 46th Avenue West in Duluth. The work includes adding pavement markings on Hwy 2 (Belknap Street) between Banks and Ogden avenues to increase the storage capacity of left turn lanes onto Hwy 35 (Tower Avenue).
Additionally, changes to the entrance/exit ramp markings of east- and westbound Hwy 2 with I-35 in Duluth will occur to expand available merge distances as drivers merge onto eastbound Hwy 2 heading toward Wisconsin and merge onto northbound I-35 coming from Wisconsin.
During this work, drivers will encounter lane and ramp closures.
The Minnesota and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation entered into a contract with AKJV in July for the final design and construction of the new Blatnik Bridge. Traffic mitigation efforts to prepare for the bridge closure started in September with a resurfacing project on Winter Street in Superior, from Hwy 53 to Susquehanna Avenue, and on Susquehanna Avenue from Winter Street to Hwy 2 (Belknap Street). That work is expected to be completed in mid-November.
Full closure of the Blatnik Bridge is expected to occur no earlier than March 1, 2027, so crews can remove the existing structure. The new bridge is scheduled to open to traffic by Oct. 31, 2031, with overall project completion in 2032.
For more information about the Blatnik Bridge replacement project and to sign up for updates, visit the project’s website.