SMITH, KLOBUCHAR CELEBRATE GROUNDBREAKING OF BLATNIK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 -- Sen. Tina Smith issued the following press release:

U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) celebrated the groundbreaking of the Blatnik Bridge replacement project, after they secured federal funding for the bridge from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and successfully pressed the administration to release the funding so construction on the project could begin.

The Blatnik Bridge powers the regional economy with 33,000 vehicles crossing every day and $3.7 billion in goods transferred annually across the bridge between the Twin Ports. The reconstructed bridge is expected to be complete in 2031.

"The Twin Ports are economic engines for the region, and that's only possible because the Blatnik Bridge is...