Today’s column (gift link) is about the Blatnik Bridge replacement in Duluth.
In this era of internet misery, no publicly visible change would occur if the first 100 people to comment on a Facebook post had their way.
There wouldn’t be a single roundabout in northern Minnesota, that’s for sure. Every new business would cancel their construction plans because they weren’t a Popeye’s or Kwik Trip. And, of course, the Blatnik Bridge would crumble into silt before ever being replaced.
No lie, I was skeptical of the $1.8 billion plan to rebuild the John A. Blatnik Bridge between Duluth and Superior, especially when I learned that it would take more than four years of detours to finish the project. But after some research, I have concluded that this project is necessary. We should be glad that Minnesota, Wisconsin and the U.S. government have agreed to fund it.
It’s also notable that online criticism seems to know a lot about the aesthetics and load-capacity restrictions of bridge design. Some seem disappointed that the new bridge uses the same general design principles as the old one and isn’t somehow more dazzling.
Well, not all upgrades are exterior. Sometimes it’s worth investing in the guts of something. Same for this bridge, which will be more durable than the old one. Furthermore, I’d argue it’s not such a bad-looking bridge. It will be sleek and light-colored, with more functionality than its predecessor.
Read “Why four years of snarled traffic in Duluth is worth it,” in the Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
