President Biden visits Blatnik Bridge, touts infrastructure law

President Joe Biden touted his infrastructure law on a Wednesday visit to the Twin Ports, his first stop after delivering the State of the Union address.

Biden, travelling with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, landed at Duluth International Airport and visited the Blatnik Bridge before delivering a speech at UW-Superior.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, and Mayor Emily Larson were on hand to greet Biden at the airport. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, and Tammy Baldwin flew with Biden to Duluth.

The delegation travelled with him to a site near the Blatnik Bridge, where the president was seen speaking with construction workers. The bridge, constructed in 1961, is slated for a multi-year replacement project beginning in 2028.

Mayor Jim Paine, the leaders of Minnesota and Wisconsin’s Departments of Transportation, and local union officials were also on hand for the president’s visit to the bridge.

Biden also spoke about investments in the St. Louis River, Superior port infrastructure, and the Great Lakes during his speech at UWS, which was by invitation only. He echoed comments by Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown that "it’s time to bury the label ‘rust belt.’"

The Twin Ports are Biden’s first stop after his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. During Tuesday’s speech, he said the nation was moving from "infrastructure week" events to the "infrastructure decade."