WDSE WDSE KEN: THIS IS THE TALE OF TWO BRIDGES.

OVERHEAR THE REMNANTS OF THE INTERSTATE BRIDGE.

IT OPEN OF JULY 13 IN 1987, THE FIRST BRIDGE LINKING CONNER’S POINT IN SUPERIOR TO RAISES POINT IN DULUTH THAT CARRIED NOT JUST REAL TRAFFI BUT WAS ALL -- REAL TRAFFIC BUT ALSO BUILT TO CARRY BUGGIES AND BICYCLIST.

THE WAY IT WAS BUILT, THE MEN TREAT AND POWER PLAYS, IS SOMETHING WE WILL SHARE WITH YOU ON IN BUSINESS.

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRIDGE, MARITIME TRAFFIC, WHICH HAD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.

THERE WAS A SWING PORTION THAT WOULD MOVE OUT OF THE WAY TO ALLOW BOATS TO PASS.

THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL.

AND IN ITS CAREER IT WAS HIT THREE TIMES BY MARITIME TRAFFIC.

IN 1958 THEY GOT A BETTER IDEA.

THEY STARTED BUILDING THE SECOND BRIDGE, THE HIGH BRIDGE.

INSTEAD OF HAVING A DRAW OR A SWING, IT HAD A HIGH CENTER POINT WHERE THE BOATS COULD PASS RIGHT UNDER.

NOW FAST-FORWARD, AFTER THIS $21 MILLION PROJECT AND 61 YEARS LATER, THIS BRIDGE IS SET TO BE REPLACED JUST LIKE THE OLD INTERSTATE BRIDGE WAS REPLACED.

THAT IS A $1.8 BILLION PROJECT THAT WE WILL INVESTIGATE IN DETAIL.

WE WILL TALK TO THE MAYORS OF DULUTH AND SUPERIOR.

WE WILL TALK TO A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT WILL HELP COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES COPE WITH THE DISRUPTION OF A NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN IN THE BRIDGE BE ENCLOSED FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS.

IT IS ALL COMING UP THIS WEEK ON "IN BUSINESS."

♪ THIS WEEK WE ARE BRIDGE BOUND WITH AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO THE REBUILDING OF THE 65-YEAR-OLD HIGH BRIDGE BETWEEN DULUTH AND SUPERIOR.

NAMED IN HONOR OF THE MINNESOTA EIGHTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JOHN BLUNT NICK, THE SPAN WAS BUILT DURING 1958 AND OPENED IN 1961.

IT REPLACED THE 1896 INTERSTATE BRIDGE.

IT WAS BUILT BY THE DULUTH SUPERIOR BRIDGE COMPANY AND WAS A SUBSIDIARY OF THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.

JAMES J HILL THE EMPIRE BUILDER TRAIN CREATED A DYNASTY BASED ON THE GREAT NORTHERN FIGURED LIKE MANY THAT SUPERIOR WAS THE LOGICAL DESTINATION FOR SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY HERE AT THE HEAD OF THE LAKES.

THE REASONING MADE PERFECT SENSE.

SUPERIOR HAD MORE FLATLANDS TO EXPAND, MORE WATERFRONT PROPERTY, AND NATURAL ENTRANCE TO THE HARBOR THAT WAS OPEN LONG BEFORE THE DULUTH SHIP CANAL WAS DONE.

HILL BUILT INTO SUPERIOR AND STUFFED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HUGE GRAIN ELEVATOR AT THE END OF HIS LINE IN WISCONSIN.

THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WERE TOO MANY COMPETING LAND COMPANIES, EACH PROMISING SUPERIOR WOULD BE SOMEWHERE ELSE ALONG ITS WATERFRONT.

EAST END, NORTH END, AND THE DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT COMPUTED SO MUCH THAT DULUTH WAS ABLE TO PREVAIL WITH JUST ONE CHOICE ON WHERE TO BUILD.

DULUTH ORIGINALLY COMMERCE BETWEEN TWO TWINS.

THE MINNEAPOLIS AND DULUTH RAILWAY BUILT THE FIRST BRIDGE AT GRASSY POINT BEFORE BECOMING PART OF THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.

THAT WAS IN 1887.

THE NP WAS BUILDING THE SECOND BRIDGE BETWEEN RICE’S POINT AND WISCONSIN EARLIER CALLED THE ST.

LOUIS BAY BRIDGE.

ALONG THIS TIME HILL DECIDED HE NEEDED HIS OWN BRIDGE TO DULUTH FOR THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.

BUT IT WAS ALREADY TOO LATE.

THE NP AND OTHER RAILROADS DID NOT WANT A NEW COMPETITOR IN DULUTH.

HILL WAS BRIDGE BLOCKED AT EVERY LOCATION.

FRUSTRATED, HILL NEEDED AN ANGLE TO CONVINCE THE INTERSTATE POWERS TO ALLOW FOR ANOTHER BRIDGE.

HIS IDEA WAS TO BUILD A THREE LANE STRUCTURE THAT WOULD CARRY NOT ONLY THE GREAT NORTHERN, BUT ALLOW FOR HORSES, WAGONS, AND PEOPLE TO CROSS AS WELL.

THE INTERSTATE BRIDGE OPENED ON JULY 13, 1897.

IT HAD TWO TRACKS ON THE MIDDLE AND AN OVERHANG ON THE WEST SIDE FOR ALL OTHER NONREAL TRAFFIC.

IT WAS A TOLL BRIDGE.

BACK IN THE DAY, BUT THE STREAMS AND BICYCLIST PAID FIVE CENTS, WAGONS AND CARTS WERE $.15, AND EACH HEAD OF CATTLE WAS A DIME.

ONE OF THE TRACKS WAS REMOVED AFTER THE END OF THE TROLLEY TRAFFIC.

THROUGH MERGERS, ALL THREE BRIDGES WOULD EVENTUALLY COME TO THE CONTROL OF THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.

WITH SO MUCH REDUNDANCY, THE FIRST TO GO WAS THE ST.

LOUIS BAY BRIDGE.

THE NEXT BRIDGE IS SCHEDULED TO GO WAS THE INTERSTATE BRIDGE.

BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

IT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT AND TRYING TO CLOSE A PRIVATELY OWNED BRIDGE THAT WAS THE MOST CONVENIENT NON-RAIL LINK BETWEEN DULUTH AND SUPERIOR.

BY NOW OTHER BRIDGES CARRY MOTOR VEHICLES, BUT THEY WERE WAY OUT OF THE WAY, WAY UP THE RIVER.

BY NOW THE INTERSTATE BRIDGE CARRIED VERY FEW TRAINS, BUT A LOT OF CARS.

ONE OF THE DRAWBACKS OF THE BRIDGE WAS THE DRAW, A PORTION OF THE BRIDGE THAT WOULD SWING OUT OF THE WAY FOR SHIPS TO PASS.

BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST BRIDGE BEFORE MOST OF THE DOCS OF RIVER, IT SPENT MOST OF ITS TIME OPENING AND CLOSING TO STREAMS OF MARITIME TRAFFIC.

AND NOT ALWAYS IN TIME.

IN 1906, THE STEAMER SMASHED INTO THE BRIDGE, CLOSING IT FOR TWO YEARS.

THE BRIDGE WAS ALSO STRUCK IN 1924 AND 1956.

THE LAST COLLISION WAS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE BRIDGES BACK.

IN 1958, WORK BEGAN ON A REPLACEMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC.

THIS NEW HIGH BRIDGE WOULD NOT NEED TO SWING OR DRAW TO ALLOW BOATS TO PASS.

THEY WOULD JUST GO UNDERNEATH.

COST OF THE ORIGINAL HIGH BRIDGE IN LATE 1950 WAS $21 MILLION.

THAT WORKS OUT TO ABOUT $1.8 MILLION IN TODAY’S MONEY, WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT THE REPLACEMENT WILL COST OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THE HIGH BRIDGE OPENED ON DECEMBER 2, 1961.

STARTING THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THEY NO LONGER NEEDED -- THE NO LONGER NEEDED INTERSTATE BRIDGE WOULD BE TORN DOWN AND THE SPAN WOULD BE CHANGED INTO A FISHING PIER, WHICH IS NOW CLOSED.

WE ATTENDED THE UNVEILING OF THE NEW BRIDGE DESIGNED TO GET A LOOK AT WHAT IS COMING.

>> SO HERE IS MY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TONIGHT BECAUSE WE STILL GET QUESTIONS, WHY AREN’T WE BUILDING IT PARALLEL AND KEEPING IT OPEN?

THIS IS THE SIMPLE ANSWER.

WE LOOKED AT DOZENS OF OPTIONS, INCLUDING BUILDING PARALLEL.

ON THE EXISTING ALIGNMENT MINIMIZES IMPACTS THE PROPERTY AND WETLANDS.

IT ALLOWS FOR ONE PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION WHERE THE CONTRACTOR CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE WHOLE JOB.

THAT RESULTS IN ALMOST A YEAR’S SAVINGS AND SCHEDULE.

PROVIDES THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHEDULE ACCELERATION.

THEY CAN PUT MULTIPLE CREWS DOING REDUNDANT OPERATIONS.

ALSO, NOT BUILDING NEXT TO IT IS A LOT LESS RISKY.

IT’S A VERY BIG BRIDGE, BUT BUILDING THAT BRIDGE NEXT TO LIVE TRAFFIC IS A RISK.

THERE’S ANOTHER BI-STATE PROJECT WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OR SO THAT WAS IN THE SAME SITUATION, BUILDING PARALLEL ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

AND THE FOUNDATIONS ON THE EXISTING BRIDGE STARTED TO SETTLE AND THEY HAD TO CLOSE THE BRIDGE EARLY.

WE ARE ELIMINATING THAT RISK.

IT IS LOWEST COST ALTERNATIVE, APPROXIMATELY $80 MILLION TO $100 MILLION LESS.

IT DID NOT GET DECIDED LIKELY.

WE DID NOT JUST SAY WE WILL BUILD IT ON EXISTING LAND.

ZOOMING IN ON THE SCHEDULE, YOU CAN SEE SINCE ’24 WE HAVE BEEN PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND A LOT OF WORK, DEVELOPING THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WHICH OUR CONTRACTORS PURSUED AND ULTIMATELY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN.

NOW WE ARE JUST STARTING FINAL DESIGN.

THIS IS A DESIGN BUILD PROJECT.

YOU CAN SEE THAT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.

YOU WILL SEE FINAL DESIGN OVERLAPS WITH CONSTRUCTION.

WE DON’T ORDINARILY DO THAT IN MOST OF WHAT WE CALL OUR LOW BID JOBS.

BEFORE THE ENTIRE BRIDGE IS DESIGNED BY THIS TEAM OF CONTRACTORS AND THEIR CONSULTANTS, THEY WILL DESIGN THE SUBSTRUCTURES WHERE THEY POUND THE FOOTINGS, MAKE THE COLUMNS FOR THE PIERS.

THEY WILL BE BUILDING THOSE BEFORE THE SUPERSTRUCTURE IS COMPLETE, SO YOU GET THIS OVERLAP.

IT IS EFFICIENT AND SAVES TIME.

I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT PUBLIC MEETINGS BEFORE.

I TYPICALLY GO TO THE SCHEDULE SLIDE AND WE TALK ABOUT CONSTRUCTION AND I ASK WHO WANTS THIS JOB DONE AS FAST AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE?

IT’S A BIG INCONVENIENCE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

THERE’S A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH SUPERIOR.

WE WILL BE DOWN TO ONE BRIDGE, HOSPITALS IN DULUTH.

THERE’S A SMALL IMPACT OF THE BOND BRIDGE BEING IMPACTED.

BUT THIS IS ONE THING THAT IS RELATIVELY NEW.

WHEN I BECAME AWARE OF THIS ON THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE PROJECT, THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROJECT.

PEOPLE BUILD THESE PROJECTS.

IF YOU HAVE EVER LOOKED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEEN THE COMMENTS ABOUT HIGHWAY PROJECTS WHEREVER THEY ARE, PEOPLE SHOULD BE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK 24 HOURS A DAY.

THIS IS A TOUGH LIFE.

THESE ARE SKILLED MEN AND WOMEN IN TRADES, AND PEOPLE BUILD THESE JOBS.

IT WAS A HEAVY CONSIDERATION ALONG WITH THE OTHER THINGS I MENTIONED IN DETERMINING THE SCHEDULE.

I WANT EVERYONE TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

NATIONWIDE THERE IS AN EFFORT TO BRING THE CONTRACTING INDUSTRY TOGETHER WITH OWNERS AND LABOR PARTNERS BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

MINDOT IS AT TABLE, HAS AN OWNER.

WE MADE SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS TO MAKE IT REASONABLE SO THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM BETTER.

WE ALLOWED TWO BRIDGE TYPES.

OUR EARLY MANTRA ARE AESTHETICS ARE NOT A DRIVER FOR THIS JOB.

SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS.

ENGINEERING WOULD SET THE MAIN SPAN TYPE.

ENGINEERING SHOWED THAT THE TIGHT ARCH YOU ARE LOOKING AT NOW WAS ONE OF THE MOST FEASIBLE OPTIONS, AS WELL AS THE CABLE STAND.

BACK TO THE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION AND OUR GOALS, ULTIMATELY THE BIDDING CONTRACTORS WOULD DETERMINE WHICH IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE CROSS TO PLAY THAT THEIR SKILLS.

WE TYPICALLY HAVE THE BIDS DONE ELECTRONICALLY THESE DAYS, BUT WE DID THIS IN PERSON BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A BIG JOB.

WE HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE AT THE MINDOT CENTRAL OFFICE.

YOU WILL SEE BOTH PROPOSAL SCORES ARE VERY HIGH.

THAT’S A HIGH NUMBER FROM ONE TO 100.

THAT’S INDICATIVE OF THE GREAT JOB BOTH THESE TEAMS DID.

THE PRICE IS VERY DIFFERENT.

THERE ARE A COUPLE REASONS, BUT PRIMARILY IT’S A DIFFERENT BRIDGE TYPE.

WHAT YOU SAW IT AS THE TEAM WENT WITH A TIGHT ARCH CALLED A DELTA FRAME.

WHEREAS LUNDELL WENT WITH THE CABLE STAY ALTERNATIVE.

THAT’S THE PRIMARY DIFFERENTIATOR IN THE PRICE.

WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR BOTH TEAMS.

WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GOOD SHAPE EITHER WAY.

WE WILL PLAY THIS VIDEO DONE BY THE KRAMER TEAM.

IT IS A FLY THROUGH VISUALIZATION.

I WILL NARRATE AS WE GO.

YOU CAN SEE THE DIRECT CONNECTION WITH U.S.

HIGHWAY 53 AND 2.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SHOWING PUBLICLY.

DIAMOND INTERCHANGE WITH ROUNDABOUTS AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH.

I KNOW EVERYONE HERE LOVES OR HATES THEM.

THEY WILL BE DESIGNED FOR OVERWEIGHT LOADS.

ALL THE LOCAL CONNECTIONS WILL BE MET THERE.

A 12 FOOT CHARITIES PATH.

-- SHARED USE PATH.

HERE IS A LOOK AT THE TIGHT ARCH WHICH IS A DELTA FRAME.

WITH UPGRADED MODERN PIER PROTECTION, THE ROUND ITEMS ARE CALLED DOLPHINS.

COMING TO THE MINNESOTA APPROACH , WHICH WILL TIE INTO THE NEW INTERCHANGE AT GARFIELD THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHANGE PROJECT.

THERE WILL BE FIVE OVERLOOKS OR RESPITES ON THE SHARED USE PATH WHICH WILL BE 12 FEET WIDE.

YOU WILL HAVE SOME INTERPRETIVE INFORMATIONAL SIGNING.

ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THE SHARED USE PATH IS ASIDE FROM BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS IT WILL BE ABLE TO USED BY OUR BRIDGE INSPECTION AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES SHOULD THE BRIDGE BE BLOCKED.

KEN: THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT LINK DULUTH TO SUPERIOR AND SUPERIOR TO DULUTH.

THE REASON BOTH COMMUNITIES ARE HERE IS OUR SHARED LOCATION ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF LAKE SUPERIOR.

OUR ECONOMIES ARE LINKED BY SHIPPING, EDUCATION AND TOURISM, TO NAME JUST A FEW.

ALSO CONNECTING DULUTH TO SUPERIOR ARE A SERIES OF BRIDGES, THE FIRST OF WHICH WAS EXCLUSIVELY FOR RAILROADS, THEN HORSES, WAGONS AND BUGGIES, NOW AUTOMOBILES.

THE LARGEST AND MOST POPULAR OF THOSE SPAMS TO OUT OF SERVICE AS THE BLATNIK HIGHBRIDGE IS REPLACED.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO BEST DEAL WITH THE DISRUPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT ARE THE MAYORS OF DULUTH AND SUPERIOR.

WITH US IS THE HONORABLE MAYOR OF DULUTH.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US ON "IN BUSINESS."

YOU HAVE AN LONGER TERM, SO I WILL START WITH ROGER REINERT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE DISRUPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE BLATNIK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT?

MAYOR REINERT: TWO THINGS FALL INTO THE DESTRUCTION CATEGORIES, BUSINESS DISTRICTS ON EITHER END OF THE BRIDGE.

A NATURAL RESULT OF THAT IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION CONNECTION.

ON THE DULUTH SIDE IT IS ABOUT IMPACTS TO THE LINCOLN WATERPARK CRAFT DISTRICT, ONE OF OUR HOT BUSINESS DISTRICTS.

SO ENSURING THAT IS NOT ONLY GOING TO BE WELL DURING CONSTRUCTION, BUT STILL BE THERE AFTER CONSTRUCTION.

AND I THINK IT IS SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR INTRO, IT IS THAT COMMERCE CONNECTION THAT DOES BIND THE COMMUNITIES.

MAYOR PAINE: I AGREE WITH THAT.

THE TWO BIG FRUSTRATIONS WERE WORKING TO RESOLVE OUR TRAFFIC AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

A LOT OF THE MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE TWIN PORTS IS IN DULUTH, SO MAKING SURE WE CAN TRANSPORT PEOPLE SAFELY AND EMERGENCIES IS VITAL, OR MAKING SURE WE BEEF UP MEDICAL RESOURCES AND SUPERIOR.

I ALSO AGREE THAT TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH IS GOING TO BE MORE FRUSTRATING.

FOLKS ARE GOING TO NEED A PLAN.

KEN: PART OF THAT PLAN IS USING THE BRIDGES THAT ARE REMAINING OPEN.

MAYOR PAINE: THAT IS THE WHOLE PLAN.

[LAUGHTER] NOT PART OF ANYTHING.

KEN: YOUR COMMUNITY HAS DEALT WITH THESE KIND OF DISRUPTIONS IN THE PAST.

I AM THINKING PRIMARILY OF THE EXPLOSION OF THE OIL REFINERY THAT TOOK SEVERAL YEARS.

ARE THERE ANY TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO THIS OR SHARE WITH THE MAYOR?

MAYOR PAINE: YOU ARE DRAMATICALLY INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE WORKFORCE THAT LIVES WITHIN THE TWIN PORTS.

THOSE FOLKS HAVE TO BE HOUSED, IN THIS CASE FOR YEARS.

THAT WILL BE A SERIOUS CHALLENGE FOR BOTH COMMUNITIES.

THAT SAID, THEY ARE BRINGING MONEY WITH THEM.

IT IS IMPORTANT WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS.

THE LINCOLN PARK CRAFT DISTRICT IS GREAT.

IF THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE THAT ARE CROSSING THE BRIDGE TO GO TO IT, THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RETAIL ECONOMY, BUT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BRIDGE YOU HAVE FOLKS WITH MONEY TO SPEND AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR BUSINESSES ARE IN A POSITION TO CAPITALIZE.

KEN: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DIFFERENTIATES THE TWO IS THE FACT THAT YOU ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MAYOR PAINE IN SUPERIOR TO MEDICAID WHAT MIGHT BE A RESULT -- TO MITIGATE WHAT MIGHT BE A RESULT?

MAYOR REINERT: OUR STATES ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH EACH OTHER ON THIS PROJECT.

THE OTHER THING IS THE TWIN PORTS BUSINESS ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A NEW GROUP OF BUSINESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BRIDGE THAT ARE PARTNERING IN ORDER TO HELP EACH OTHER SURVIVE THIS PROCESS, AND I THINK IT IS GREAT TO SEE.

WE ARE THE TWIN PORTS.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF PAROCHIALISM BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES.

BUT WHAT IS GOOD FOR SUPERIOR IS GOOD TO DULUTH AND VICE VERSA.

SEEING THOSE BUSINESSES BAND TOGETHER TO BE A VOICE FOR THE LOCAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS, IN ORDER FOR THEM TO STILL BE THERE AT THE END OF THE PROJECT IS ENCOURAGING.

KEN: YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE COOPERATION AND HOW THAT MIGHT LEAD TO MORE COOPERATION IN THE FUTURE?

MAYOR PAINE: IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WHILE THIS BRIDGE GOES BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES, THE BASE OF EACH ONE IS IN A COMMUNITY.

THIS BRIDGE REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING DULUTH AND SUPERIOR CLOSER TOGETHER THAN THEY EVER HAVE BEEN.

IT IS NOT AS LONG A BRIDGE AS PEOPLE THINK.

THERE ARE REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO WALK AND BIKE FROM THE NORTH END OF SUPERIOR TO WEST DULUTH.

THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW BOTH COMMUNITIES.

AS HARD AS EVERYONE IS WORKING TO PREPARE FOR THE CLOSING OF THE BRIDGE, WE ALSO NEED TO BE PREPARING FOR THE OPENING OF THE NEW BRIDGE, BECAUSE THERE’S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY WE JUST DON’T WANT TO MISS.

KEN: LET’S CLOSE ON THAT THOUGHT.

WHAT ARE THE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES ONCE THIS BRIDGE IS DONE?

THE NEW TRAFFIC FLOWS MEANS A CHANGE IN BUSINESS.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT AFFECTING DULUTH?

MAYOR REINERT: ON DULUTH, THE SET UP WILL BE THE SAME.

MORE IMPACT ON THE SUPERIOR SIDE.

SOMETHING I AM ESPECIALLY EXCITED FOR IS THE INCLUSION OF THE BOND BRIDGE OF A LAYMAN THAT IS NOT FOR AUTOMOBILES -- OF A LANE THAT IS NOT FOR AUTOMOBILES, SO YOU CAN HAVE BIKE TRAFFIC BETWEEN TWO COMMUNITIES.

WE WILL HAVE HUNDREDS OF WORKERS OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS AND IT WILL PUT PRESSURE ON THE HOUSING, BUT I THINK BOTH COMMUNITIES WILL SEE NEW RESIDENTS.

KEN: HOW DO YOU SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES GOING FORWARD?

IN THE CURRENT CONFIGURATION THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF HOTELS AND SERVICE ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE.

MAYOR PAINE: OUR SIDE OF THE BRIDGE WILL CHANGE QUITE A BIT MORE.

IT WILL BE A TOTAL CHANGE IN HOW TRAFFIC MOVES THROUGH THIS PAPER HIDES.

I BELIEVE IT WILL BE BETTER FOR THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE.

IT TAKES OUT A LOT OF THE HIGH-SPEED, HIGH-VOLUME TRAFFIC AND MOVES IT TO THE HIGHWAY WHILE STILL GRANTING ACCESS TO A LOT OF BUSINESSES AT THE FOOT OF THE BRIDGE.

AND THEN IT WILL EXPOSE A LOT OF LAND THAT HAS NO DEVELOPMENT ON IT WHATSOEVER.

I THINK IT IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A NEW NORTH END BUSINESS DISTRICT, NOT UNLIKE WHAT EXISTED BEFORE THE BRIDGE WAS BUILT.

KEN: MAYOR PAINE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND MAYOR REINERT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS "IN BUSINESS."

THE BRIDGE PROJECT WILL BRING MANY CHALLENGES FOR BUSINESSES ACROSS THE TWIN PORTS.

WE SPOKE WITH A GROUP OF BUSINESS ENTHUSIASTS WHO ARE TRYING TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT.

WE SPOKE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IN SUPERIOR ABOUT WHAT THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT COULD MEAN FOR BUSINESSES AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

LIKE FENCES, BRIDGES BUILD GOOD NEIGHBORS AS WELL.

THE NEIGHBORS HERE CONNECTED BY THE BLATNIK HIGH BRIDGE WHICH VERY SOON WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND REBUILT OVER THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

THAT WILL CAUSE SOME DISRUPTION.

BUSINESSES CONSTANTLY FACE CHANGES.

THE DISRUPTIONS CAN COME FROM A CHANGE IN TECHNOLOGY.

A CHANGE IN DEMOGRAPHICS.

OR A NATURAL DISASTER.

THOSE THINGS HAPPEN AND CANNOT BE PLANNED FOR.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CAN PLAN FOR THAT YOU KNOW WILL CAUSE DISRUPTION IS HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN FOR THE FIVE YEARS THAT THE BLATNIK BRIDGE IS RECONSTRUCTED.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT IN SUPERIOR.

OUR GUESTS ARE JIM CAESAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IN SUPERIOR, AND WITH US IS GINNY’S MEYER, ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE -- JANICE MEYER, ASSISTANT ADJECTIVE DIRECTOR.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND WHAT YOU ARE PLANNING FOR THIS INTERRUPTION FOR HAVING THE BRIDGE OUT OF SERVICE FOR FIVE YEARS.

YOU JUST DID A SURVEY ABOUT WHAT THOSE CHANGES MIGHT BE.

>> WE STARTED ON THIS PROJECT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AS WE IDENTIFIED THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN INTERRUPTION.

WE DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH.

WHAT IS THE SURVEY -- THE CONSUMER SURVEY WAS PART OF JANICE’S WORK TO BRING THAT FORWARD.

SO THAT WE COULD PUT TOGETHER PLANS ON HOW TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT.

OUR HOPE IS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FIND SOME FUNDING SIMILAR TO A PPP PROGRAM DURING COVID THAT OUR BUSINESSES WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS, PROVIDING THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THAT.

SO WE NEEDED TO GET A BASELINE OF WHAT BUSINESSES THINK OR WHERE THEY BELIEVE THEY WILL BE IMPACTED.

WE EXPANDED HER ROLE.

SHE HAS LED THE SURVEYS.

KEN: WHAT WERE SOME OF THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY?

>> WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WERE THE BUSINESS OWNERS THINKING.

ANECDOTALLY WE WERE HEARING PEOPLE WERE TERRIFIED, BUT FOR LARGER BUSINESSES THAT WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

WE STARTED TO DIVE IN AND LOOK AT WHERE DOES REVENUE COME FROM?

WHAT WERE THE MOST AFRAID OF?

WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES WERE BUSINESSES NEEDING AND WANTING TO HELP THEM KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN DURING THAT FIVE YEAR CLOSURE?

AS JIM HAS SAID A NUMBER OF TIMES, IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT YEAR ONE AND TWO, BUT YEAR THREE, FOUR AND FIVE.

WE WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING TO HELP BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THOSE FIVE YEARS.

NO SURPRISE WE ARE AN INTERCONNECTED TWIN PORTS COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF SUPERIOR BUSINESSES HAVE THEIR REVENUE AND CUSTOMERS THAT ARE COMING FROM MINNESOTA.

WE ALSO FOUND SOME WERE NOT AS WORRIED ABOUT MAKING IT THROUGH THE FIVE YEARS.

FOR THE 30 BUSINESSES THAT SAID WE DON’T KNOW IF WE CAN KEEP OUR BUSINESS OPEN, THOSE WERE THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

THE ONES THAT ARE IN RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT.

THAT HELPED US THROUGH THESE SURVEY FINDINGS TO KNOW WHERE WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR EFFORTS.

ANOTHER FINDING THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT IS BEING ABLE TO HAVE GRANTS AND FORGIVABLE LOANS WAS THE NUMBER ONE THING THEY WANTED FOR SUPPORT.

COMING IN AFTER THAT WAS HOW DO WE BRING PEOPLE MORE TOGETHER AND BE ITS A -- AND SUPERIOR HAS CHANGED SO MUCH, THE PARKS ARE FANTASTIC.

HOW DO WE LET PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN KNOW WHAT IS ALREADY IN THEIR BACKYARD TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT HAS CHANGED, AND WHAT BUSINESSES ARE AVAILABLE AND WHAT KIND OF SERVICE SUPPORT IS ALREADY HERE, ESPECIALLY IN RETAIL.

THE OTHER TWO WERE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CLEAR SIGNAGE.

THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING SO THEY CAN BETTER COMMUNICATE THAT TO CUSTOMERS, AS WELL AS HAVE SIGNAGE TO HELP DIRECT PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

KEN: LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT PPP-LIKE PROGRAM.

WHAT KIND OF GRANTS MIGHT ESTABLISH SOME REVOLVING FORGIVABLE LOAN PROGRAM OR OUTRIGHT GRANTS TO KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED DURING THIS TIME?

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR THREE YEARS, BRINGING IT DOWN TO MADISON.

ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO THERE WAS A SURPLUS.

WE ASKED FOR SOME OF THAT MONEY AND WE SAID IF WE DON’T USE IT WE WILL GIVE IT BACK.

AND LAST YEAR WE WENT DOWN AND ASKED TO GET HALF A PERCENT MORE OF THE SALES TAX BACK TO FUND THAT KIND OF PROGRAM.

WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH SENATOR BALDWIN’S OFFICE TO GET THAT INTO THE BUDGET.

AND OTHER GRANTS.

KEN: THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IN SUPERIOR.

JIM IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION.

IN THIS IS "IN BUSINESS."

THANKSS F -- I’M KEN BUEHLER AND THANKS FOR MUCH IN "IN BUSINESS ."

IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF THE SHOW YOU CAN ALWAYS REWATCH IT ON PBSNORTH.ORG.

IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A FUTURE STORY ON "IN BUSINESS," EMAIL US AT ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND UNTIL NEXT TIME LET’S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

♪