John A. Blatnik Bridge

John A. Blatnik Bridge
John A. Blatnik Bridge
	Looking towards Duluth, Minnesota from Superior, Wisconsin near the Blatnik Bridge at night.
Coordinates	46°44′57″N 92°06′05″W / 46.749133°N 92.101286°WCoordinates: 46°44′57″N 92°06′05″W / 46.749133°N 92.101286°W
Carries	4 lanes of I-535 / US 53
Crosses	Saint Louis Bay
Locale	Duluth, MN, and Superior, WI
Maintained by	Minnesota Department of Transportation
ID number	9030
Characteristics
Design	Through-arch
Total length	7,975 feet (2,431 m)
Longest span	600 feet (180 m)
History
Opened	1961
Location

The John A. Blatnik Bridge is the bridge that carries Interstate 535 (I-535) and U.S. Highway 53 (US 53) over the Saint Louis River, a tributary of Lake Superior, between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. The bridge is 7,975 feet (2,431 m) long and rises up nearly 120 feet (37 m) above the water to accommodate the seaway shipping channel. It was dedicated on December 2, 1961, but was renamed for Congressman John Blatnik on September 24, 1971, to commemorate Blatnik's role in making the bridge a reality. The Blatnik Bridge replaced a swinging toll bridge around the same location that carried both automobile and rail traffic.

The bridge was widened and the substructure was strengthened between 1992 and 1993 to accommodate hard shoulders. The Blatnik Bridge was reduced to two lanes temporarily in 2008, after it was discovered in a bridge inspection that the 1990s upgrades to the Blatnik Bridge had added weight beyond the load limit for gusset plates in eight different locations. This was similar to the gusset plates that caused the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis to collapse on August 1, 2007. The Blatnik Bridge was reduced to two lanes temporarily until the gusset plates could be strengthened.

In November 2011, both the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation installed new signs to remind drivers that trucks over 40 short tons (36 t) gross vehicle weight cannot use the Blatnik Bridge; these vehicles will be rerouted to the nearby Bong Bridge. According to the press release, permitted, overweight vehicles have been restricted from using the Blatnik Bridge since early 2008 when inspections showed that corrosion and time were starting to affect the structure. Transportation officials say that the bridge is aging and restriction of overweight vehicles will help to extend the life of the bridge. Drivers who disregard the posted weight limits will be ticketed.^[1]

The Blatnik Bridge is one of two connecting Duluth and Superior, the other being the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge, a tied-arch bridge upriver from the Blatnick Bridge. The Bong Bridge carries U.S. Highway 2 (US 2) over the St. Louis Bay.

Central Arch of the Blatnik Bridge

Blatnik Bridge looking towards Superior

References[]

^ Burns, Krista (November 21, 2011). "Load Limit Signs on Blatnik Bridge". Duluth, MN: KBJR-TV/KDLH-TV. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.

Staff. "September 24". FHWA by Day. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
Blatnik Bridge at Structurae
Lindberg, Donna (May 6, 2008). "Mn/DOT to repair gusset plates on Duluth's Blatnik Bridge" (Press release). Minnesota Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.

External links[]

Media related to John A. Blatnik Bridge at Wikimedia Commons

[burns-2011-11-12-1] Burns, Krista (November 21, 2011). "Load Limit Signs on Blatnik Bridge". Duluth, MN: KBJR-TV/KDLH-TV. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.

[1]

John A. Blatnik Bridge

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