Superior-bound Blatnik lane reopens Monday; north lanes close

Duluth-Superior commuters will have to switch their habits Monday.

Northbound lanes to Duluth on Interstate 535, the Blatnik Bridge, will close about 9 a.m., according to a news release issued by the Superior Police Department. One lane on the southbound side reopens to traffic heading into Superior.

The detour route remains U.S. Highway 2/Belknap Street and the Bong Bridge for traffic bound for Duluth.

Gusset plate strengthening is expected to take about three weeks.

The Duluth Transit Authority’s detour for Route No. 16 also changes to accommodate the repairs. Starting Monday, buses arriving at North 14th Street and Tower Avenue from Itasca continue on Tower Avenue and detour to Winter Street, Banks Avenue, Belknap Street, Bong Bridge, I-35W Freeway, Mesaba Avenue exit to Superior Street, Superior Street and back to its regular route.

Buses from Duluth to Superior are not affected by the Duluth-bound lane closure and run regular routes.

Passengers traveling to Duluth must board the bus coming from Duluth and bound for downtown Superior and Itasca. Passengers can get a timely connection by transferring on Tower Avenue to the Duluth-bound bus.

North End Superior shuttle services run from downtown Superior to North End Superior during morning and afternoon peak hours, 7-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. weekdays. Shuttle services won’t be provided during off-peak hours or weekends. Shuttle schedules can be obtained from bus drivers.

Service from Goodwill Industries and Garfield Avenue to downtown Duluth departs Goodwill at 12:15 p.m., 3:34 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Passengers traveling to downtown Duluth may also take a Route No. 16 bus to Superior and transfer on Tower Avenue to the Duluth-Superior bus traveling to Duluth.

The DTA does not anticipate any major delays in service. Passengers should expect buses to run as scheduled.

Tags: blatnik, traffic, lanes, gusset, bong