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Bonds are part of plan to replace key bridge linking Wisconsin, Minnesota

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Bonds are part of plan to replace key bridge linking Wisconsin, Minnesota


The John A. Blatnik Bridge links Superior, Wisconsin to Duluth, Minnesota, curving across the Saint Louis River between the two cities. But over its 62 years, rust and structural decay have taken a toll on the 7,975-feet-long steel span. So the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation, which co-own and operate the bridge, are planning to replace it.

State bonds are a key part of that plan, but officials in the two states are also seeking more than $1 billion in federal grants to raze the bridge and build anew. While last year’s federal omnibus spending bill included $7.5 million for the bridge, the two states still have a significant gap to fill.

“At this point in time, knowing what we know, the current [total cost estimate] is $1.8 billion in year of expenditure dollars,” said Pat Huston, assistant district engineer, major projects for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. “It will likely change as we know more.”

The 62-year-old Blatnik Bridge, links Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota.

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In addition to requesting federal funding — first through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program, then more recently through the USDOT’s Bridge Investment Program — each state has committed $400 million toward the costs of replacing the bridge.

“About $200 million of that is from our capital highway improvement program, and $200 million will be from bonds,” said Minnesota’s Huston. The latter $200 million will come from trunk highway bonds authorized in the 2023 legislative session.

Minnesota has been since 2022.

“This project is vital to regional economic growth, strengthening our national supply chains and the reliability of our transportation network that serves hundreds of communities,” said Minnesota DOT District 1 Communications Director Pippi Mayfield.

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For its part, Wisconsin authorized $47.2 million in state funds and $352.8 million in general obligation bonding authority toward the project in its 2023-25 budget.

Wisconsin Capital Finance Director Aaron Heintz said the bonds will be issued in state fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025.

Fitch Ratings assigns Wisconsin a long-term issuer default rating of AA-plus, Moody’s Investors Service rates it Aa1, Kroll Bond Rating Agency rates Wisconsin GOs AAA and S&P Global Ratings assigns the state a rating of AA-plus. 

The usage order of funding that includes federal grants is: first, match requirements of the grant with funding in the form of general obligations; next, federal grant funding; and finally, state funding via bonds.

“The state bonding would first satisfy any matching requirements of the federal grant funding, and then would be used after federal grant funding has been exhausted, with state funding providing the last dollars for the project,” Heintz said.

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Planning for the project began in August 2020, and now both states are eager to set their plan in motion. In 2019, officials implemented load restrictions on the bridge: trucks weighing more than 40 tons are barred from crossing. And Blatnik may need to be closed completely before 2030 for safety reasons.

Yet today, more than 33,000 cars and trucks traverse the bridge daily.

“I’m proud to partner with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers as we urge our federal partners to support this project that will foster regional economic growth, bolster our national supply chains, and strengthen the reliability of our transportation network that serves hundreds of communities between our states,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement.

“These grant applications and deepening shows of support – from local communities and elected officials in both states – demonstrate how important this project is and why we must act with urgency,” added Wisconsin DOT Secretary Craig Thompson.

In a May presentation at the Minnesota Transportation Conference, Minnesota DOT officials said the state ranks the bridge as the one most at risk of service interruption out of its entire statewide bridge inventory. Blatnik also has some of the highest crash rates in the state.

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The Wisconsin DOTs estimate phased construction could begin in 2025, funding permitting, and will include the closure of the bridge for four to five years.



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Some of the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Minnesota

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Some of the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Minnesota


Some of the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Minnesota – CBS Minnesota

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The new year signals the start of new laws taking effect in Minnesota, which will impact Minnesotans’ health, wallets and safety.

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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports

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Goalie Nicole Hensley stars as league-leading Minnesota Frost top New York Sirens in shootout | CBC Sports


Nicole Hensley made back-to-back saves in the shootout and the Minnesota Frost earned their fourth straight victory with a 4-3 win over the New York Sirens on Sunday in Newark, N.J.

It was the fourth time in seven all-time meetings that a game between the teams was decided in OT and the second this season. New York won the season opener in St. Paul, Minn.

Kendall Coyne Schofield scored two first-period goals to stake the Frost to the early lead and Taylor Heise beat Kayle Osborne, who relieved starter Abigail Levy in the New York net to start the second period, two minutes in to make it a 3-0 lead.

WATCH l Heise scores shootout winner:

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Minnesota captures shootout win over New York to remain on top of PWHL standings

Taylor Heise’s fourth round shootout goal turned out to be the difference as the Minnesota Frost defeated New York Sirens 4-3 Sunday in New Jersey.

But Osborne did not allow another goal in regulation and wasn’t seriously challenged in overtime while the Sirens staged a comeback. Brooke Hobson and Elizabeth Giguere each scored in the second period and Alex Carpenter pounced on a loose puck and lifted a shot over Hensley’s shoulder from deep in the face-off circle to tie the game midway through the third period.

Hensley was brilliant in overtime, turning away four close-in, open shots by the Sirens (2-1-1-1), two of them on breakaway chances.

Minnesota (4-0-1-0) got goals from Denisa Křížová, Grace Zumwinkle and Heise in the shootout. Noora Tulus and Carpenter each converted in the shootout for New York, but Hensley came up with a save on Sarah Fillier before stopping the final two shooters for the Sirens.

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Hensley finished with 33 saves on 36 shots to earn the win. Osborne made 18 saves on 19 shots over her 45 minutes in goal for New York. Carpenter’s two-goal effort lifted her past Coyne Schofield and into the league lead with four goals in her first five games and she now has a league-leading seven points.

WATCH l Sirens’ Fillier, Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry:

New York Sirens’ Sarah Fillier, Alex Carpenter test their off-ice chemistry

Host Anastasia Bucsis puts newest teammates and linemates to the test to determine if their chemistry on the ice, translates off it.



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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years

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Unique northern Minnesota border airport closing after 70 years


A northern Minnesota airport with an unusual claim to fame is closing after 70 years of operation.

The Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport near Roseau is the only airport with a paved runway crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

The border airport opened in 1953 to expedite customs processing for air travelers and was regularly used by hunters and anglers flying to Canada.

The Piney Pinecreek airport has the only paved runway crossing the US Canada border.

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Initially, the airport had a grass runway that ended at the border, but in 1978 a runway expansion added a paved runway that extended into Canada.

Customs agents would meet travelers on either side of the border.

But declining usage and significant impending repair costs led to the decision to close the one of a kind operation, said Ryan Gaug, director of the Minnesota Department of Transportation aeronautics office.

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“We know that the pavement condition has declined significantly over the years and will need a reconstruct most likely in the next one to three years,” said Gaug.

Short-term costs to bring the facility up to safety standards is estimated at $3.8 million.

Piney-Pinecreek is the only airport owned by MnDOT, and it is operated in collaboration with the Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba.

A Canadian official said the local government could not raise the money to pay its share of the planned improvement costs and Piney officials ended the joint operations agreement.

Gaug said an estimated 200 airplanes a year use the facility, far lower than traffic at similar sized facilities.

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There are six airports on the U.S.-Canada border, but Piney-Pinecreek is the only one with a paved runway.

“It’s always been the No. 1 fun fact that I’ve shared with friends, family, coworkers, colleagues here at MnDOT,” said Gaug.

“It’s a tough decision to close an airport ever, but the evidence was all there that now was the time,” he said.

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MnDOT officials said the runway at Piney Pinecreek border airport needs a costly reconstruction.

Courtesy MnDOT

There are no local airplanes based at the airport.

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“It’s very sad for the community to lose its airport,” said Marlin Elton, a local resident who served on the airport commission and helped maintain the facility for 30 years.

Elton said the closure hasn’t raised concerns in the community because “if you don’t fly, it won’t affect you. The ones who will be affected are the pilots who use it.”

Gaug said MnDOT reached out to pilots and aviation groups to gauge support for keeping the airport open but found “there just isn’t a strong user base for this airport and that also led to not a strong local support fighting to keep this airport.”

The final day of operations for the Piney-Pinecreek airport is Dec. 26.



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