President, First Lady talk about local infrastructure law plans in Superior

The day after giving his first State of the Union address, President Joe Biden has traveled to Superior, Wisconsin.

The president, as well as First Lady Jill Biden, Ed.D., arrived at Duluth International Airport shortly after 12 p.m., and then traveled to the University of Wisconsin-Superior, where President Biden and the First Lady are speaking about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Building a Better America at Yellowjacket Union.

During their remarks, the President and First Lady are expected to discuss the Blatnik Bridge, which connects Duluth and Superior across the St. Louis Bay.

The bridge, which carries thousands of vehicles every day, has had load restrictions put in place, according to the White House. They add the maximum weight of vehicles passing the bridge is 40 tons, and large trucks—as well as heavy-weight vehicles—are prohibited from traveling across the bridge.

According to the White House, the structural beams will need to be replaced within the next 10-15 years, otherwise there will be more load restrictions, increased inspections, lane closures and maintenance.

Biden’s infrastructure law would give $4.8 billion to Minnesota and about $5.4 billion to Wisconsin during the next five years to help repair roads and bridges, according to the White House. Each state has hundreds of bridges in poor condition—Minnesota with more than 660, and Wisconsin with more than 970.

The President and First Lady are expected to begin speaking at 2:15 p.m., and leave Duluth shortly after 4 p.m.

View video of their arrival via the player below.

Wednesday morning, the Minnesota GOP issued the following statement regarding the president and first lady’s visit:

“As the President travels through our state on the way to another taxpayer-funded campaign stop, he should take time to face the voters of Minnesota and answer for the massive failures of his Administration. President Biden has attacked Minnesota mining jobs and affordable energy, put the squeeze on families and businesses by driving up inflation to an all-time high, and overseen a massive crime wave of historic proportions. Today, the President has a lot to answer for to the people of Minnesota.”

David Hann, Chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota

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