Duluth bridge traffic changes direction

by Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Duluth and Superior motorists have a couple more weeks to put up with emergency repairs to the Blatnik High Bridge.

Crews are strengthening the bridge's gusset plates, the same component suspected in the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis.

MnDot bridge engineer Pat Huston said traffic closes on the bridge today from Superior to Duluth, while a single lane will open to traffic from Duluth to Superior.

Huston said good weather has speeded repairs so far.

"It could be two to three weeks additional time of that closure from Superior to Duluth, but that is the amount of good working days we need. So, if it's very windy up there, or rainy, we'll lose days and that will add time," Huston said.

Motorists coming from Superior to Duluth are advised to take the Bong bridge instead.