Two Designs In The Running For Blatnik Bridge Replacement

What's the new bridge going to look like in the Twin Ports? Construction will begin soon and take 4-5 years. If all goes well, we could have a new bridge in place and open in 2031. But what will it look like? Here's a breakdown of the two design options they are considering.

The current bridge is reaching the end of its service life. There have already been load restrictions put in place, and a new bridge is needed to handle the 33,000 cars that use the bridge daily. The new bridge will be constructed on the same alignment as the current Blatnik Bridge. It's the minimum disruption and cheapest option going forward.

Read More: Kari Toyota New Location To Open At Base Of Bong Bridge This Summer

Two Bridge Designs Proposed

The bridge design will either be a tied-arch or cable-stayed design. A committee has been formed for the visual design elements of the bridge, including colors, lighting, landscaping, and other visual aspects.

Tied-Arch Bridge

The tied-arch bridge is a curved overhead arch. It's a common bridge design, and would look similar to the Bong Bridge. Tied-arch bridges use the tension of the arch with support cables to hold the bridge up.

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Cable-Stayed Bridge

A newer bridge design is the cable-stayed system. MNDOT installed the first Cable-Stayed Bridge in Minneapolis in 2007. The Martin Olav Sabo Bridge crosses Hiawatha Avenue.

Notable Cable-Stayed Bridges

We recently went on a trip to California and Mexico. Our hotel overlooked the Long Beach International Gateway, which is a cable-stayed bridge. It was a beautiful sight to see, especially when it was all lit up at night. I could see this being a nice addition to the Twin Ports. How will the cables handle ice buildup, though? They have different techniques to prevent it, but with as much winter weather as we have in the Northland, it could be a challenge.

What do you think? Which design do you prefer?