Overview
- Officials formally broke ground and announced the project is underway under joint MnDOT and WisDOT leadership with state and federal elected officials in attendance.
- The $1.8 billion cost is covered by $1 billion in federal funding and roughly $400 million pledged by each state.
- State engineers say the 1961 span can no longer meet service‑life and overweight freight needs, and the replacement is intended to restore load capacity for trucks and commerce.
- Construction is set to begin in September 2026 and officials expect a full closure of the existing bridge beginning in early 2027 that will last about four to five years.
- Officials project sustained construction employment and major traffic and freight rerouting during the closure, with planners and businesses preparing detours and coordinated logistics to limit economic disruption.