Blatnik Bridge Structural Health Monitoring System Design and Implementation

Location:	Minnesota
Posted:	Jun 23, 2026
Due:	Jul 16, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Minnesota
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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MnDOT Contract No. 1063529

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

Introduction

MnDOT (the State) and WisDOT currently have a project in progress to replace the Blatnik Bridge connecting

Duluth, MN with Superior, WI. This bridge is expected to face numerous challenges over time, including

evolving freight demands and the impacts of climate change. Increased wind loads and severe snowstorms can

accelerate material deterioration, leading to higher maintenance requirements and potential disruptions in

regular operations. The State plans to implement a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system on the new

Blatnik Bridge, primarily the main navigational span section with consideration for its approach spans (inclusive

of the Howard’s Pocket spans), to preserve serviceability, safety, and sustainability of the bridge structure

throughout its lifespan.

The complex structural behavior of long span bridges under changing loading conditions requires a deeper

understanding to ensure public safety and structural reliability. The State’s primary goal in implementing this

SHM system is to leverage advanced sensing technologies developed over the past two decades to enable

informed decision making using both robust baseline and real-time data, ultimately enhancing public safety and

extending the structure’s service life.

The SHM system will serve as a decision-making tool for efficient operations, maintenance, and timely

preservation projects. Data collected from the system will be integrated with bridge inspection data and

complemented by engineering judgment to determine the most effective preventive maintenance strategies,

validate assumptions about the structure’s performance, and monitor the condition of key components over

time. Ultimately, this integration of technology ensures that the State can maintain the Blatnik Bridge as a safe,

reliable, and sustainable asset for decades to come.

The State desires to implement a remote, permanent or temporary, real-time, sensor-based SHM system

throughout the new Blatnik bridge that is expandable or replaceable over the life of the structure. Contractors

are expected to provide teams comprised of academia and consultants that understand bridge engineering,

monitoring, performance, and service life.

Upon completion of the project, the State will own all data collected and models developed. To ensure the

protection of sensitive project information and the accuracy of any public communication, the State will require

that all papers, articles, presentations, or other publications related to this project be submitted for prior review

and approval. This requirement helps prevent the inadvertent disclosure of information that is restricted due to

the security classification of the bridge.

This Contract will be administered in multiple phases. Phase I will be included in the initial contract budget.

Phases II and III will be negotiated and added to the Contract by formal amendments at the sole discretion of

the State. Phases for this work include:

• Phase I – Planning

• Phase II – Implementation

• Phase III – Short-Term Operation and Maintenance

Due to the design-build delivery, interested responders must adhere the following requirements related to

organizational conflicts of interest (see “Conflict of Interest” under the Laws and Policies section):

Design-Build Resources - MnDOT Design-Build Program

Draft - Blatnik Bridge Monitoring Scope of Work

MnDOT Contract No. 1063529

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

Project Background

Minnesota State Project (SP) 6981-26 on I-535 for Blatnik Bridge Replacement Design-Build Project is primarily

located in St. Louis County, Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin between the cities of Duluth, Minnesota

and Superior, Wisconsin. The project limits extend 0.3 miles from the existing bridge structure on the

Minnesota approach to 0.75 miles from the existing bridge structure on the Wisconsin approach, along US 53.

The project is being delivered using the design-build delivery process. The project includes replacement of the

existing John. A. Blatnik I-535 Bridge (Minnesota Bridge number 9030, Wisconsin Structure B-16-5) on Interstate

535 (I-535) connecting Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin across the St. Louis River and Bay. The Bridge

Contractor for the project has not been selected yet, so it is unknown at this time what structure types will be

utilized. Preliminary design done to date suggests that a cable-stay or tied-arch structure will likely be utilized

for the main navigational spans, a steel I-girder unit will likely be used for the Howard’s Pocket spans, and the

remaining spans will likely be either prestressed concrete girders or steel I-girders. The project also includes

reconstructing an interchange in Superior, WI that connects I-535 directly to US 53, with local connections to

Hammond Avenue and WIS 35. The project includes design and construction of a new mainline bridge

(Minnesota Bridge number 69913, Wisconsin Structure B-16-0153) and new exit ramp bridge (WI Structure B-16-

0154) and entrance ramp bridge (WI Structure B-16-0155). The new mainline bridge includes several bridge

units:

1. The Bridge Unit(s) for I-535 mainline portions from the abutment in Minnesota to the Main Navigation

Channel Bridge Unit

2. Bridge Unit of the Main Navigation Channel over St. Louis River,

3. The Bridge Unit(s) along Conner’s Point between the Main Navigation Channel and Howard’s Pocket

Navigation Bridge Units

4. The Howard’s Pocket Navigation Channel Bridge Unit

5. The Bridge Unit(s) from the Howard’s Pocket Navigation Channel Bridge Unit to the mainline abutment

in Wisconsin.

The project includes a new shared use path on the easterly side of the new mainline bridge and Wisconsin

entrance ramp bridge with trail connections in Duluth and Superior, drainage improvements, retaining walls,

and improvements within the City of Superior. The existing bridge will be closed for most of the construction,

and traffic will be detoured to the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge (US-2 over the St. Louis River).

Approximate Project cost: The estimated cost of the Project is between $1.0 billion and $1.4 billion.

To find additional project information related to the Project, refer to the project website located here:

https://www.dot.state.mn.us/designbuild/blatnik-bridge/index.html

Project information such as design files, layouts and more can be found on the project SharePoint site, which is

found on the project website. Download and review all files on the project SharePoint site.

The State anticipates a minimum of five-year duration for this contract. The State anticipates the work may

extend past 5 years, which may result in a subsequent contract being set up.

Draft - Blatnik Bridge Monitoring Scope of Work

MnDOT Contract No. 1063529

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

Definitions:

• BMP: Bridge Monitoring Plan - framework based on monitoring goals and strategies for how the

monitoring will be conducted.

• DBC: Design-Build Contractor - The single entity that manages both the design and construction of a

project under one contract.

• DBVO: the State’s Design-Build Verification Oversight.

• PM: Project Manager – Primary contact person for the contractor.

• QMP: Quality Management Plan – Document describing how the contractor will ensure completeness

and accuracy of submittals.

• SHM: Structural Health Monitoring – reference to the entire SMS along with analysis and monitoring

• SMS: Structural Monitoring System - the hardware and software used to collect the data required by the

BMP.

• Structural Health Evaluation System: framework for the detection and assessment damage in the

structure. It includes built‑in reporting.

Task 1: Project Management

Project Administration

The State will provide a Project Manager (PM) to direct the Contractor’s activities. It will be the responsibility of

the State’s Project Manager to receive the work produced by Contractor, facilitate the review of the work for

accuracy and compliance with State standards, and to recommend payment for such work.

Contractor will conduct the administration of the project, which will include communication with the State,

invoicing, preparation of any necessary supplemental agreements, cost and schedule updates, and other non-

technical work.

The contractor’s PM is responsible for managing the consultant contract and its personnel. Additional

responsibilities may be assigned to various contract personnel who have been approved by the State as the

Project Manager deems necessary. The PM will manage the development and submission of the contract

deliverables, communicate with the State on contract deliverables, submit minutes of meetings, ensure

completion and submittal of contract deliverables according to the submission schedule provided in the Scope

of Work, respond to comments from the State on submittals, and coordinate the training of State staff on

operations and maintenance of the final implemented Blatnik SHM and Bridge Monitoring Plan Workshop.

No changes in Contractor’s project management or key personnel will be permitted without prior written notice

to and written acceptance from the State’s Project Manager. The State will notify Contractor immediately if

there are changes to State’s assigned project management personnel.

Meetings

Co-location is not required of the PM; however, the PM must be on-site for meetings as requested by the State’s

Project Manager and may be required to identify and provide an individual to attend anticipated meetings

throughout the duration of the contract.

Kick-Off Meeting: the Contractor will participate in a virtual kick-off meeting. The meeting will establish

communication protocol for the project, discuss workshop deliverables and planning, review design

Draft - Blatnik Bridge Monitoring Scope of Work

MnDOT Contract No. 1063529

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

documentation available, discuss known project issues and needs, and review the project schedule. Assume a 2-

hour meeting duration.

Progress Meetings: Contractor will facilitate monthly progress review meetings to coordinate specific tasks and

provide project updates with State staff. Assume 1-hour virtual meeting durations. State anticipates a multi-

functional group of participants involved with these meetings through the duration of the contract. The

frequency of meetings may fluctuate throughout the contract based on project requirements. However, the

Contractor may account for a minimum of two meetings per month during Phase I, and monthly meetings

during Phases II and III.

Comment Resolution Meetings: Contractor will plan on a minimum of 8 comment resolution meetings (one

meeting per draft deliverable) throughout the duration of the project. Assume 1-hour virtual meeting durations.

When possible, combine these meetings with Progress Meetings.

Bridge Monitoring Plan workshop Meeting: The Contractor will facilitate a full-day, hybrid Bridge Monitoring

Plan workshop to review findings, evaluate monitoring options, and develop the framework for the Bridge

Monitoring Plan as described in Task 2.

Training Meeting: The Contractor will facilitate a training session on the operation, functionality and

troubleshooting of the Data Management System User Interface as described in Task 6. This training may take

place virtually. The meeting should be of sufficient length to cover all applicable use of the user interface and

key elements of the system.

Project coordination with Design-Build Contractor

The Contractor will collaborate continually with the DBC and the State for schedule, identifying hold points,

being accessible in short notice to accommodate DBC work, identifying access needs, and work duration. Include

coordination steps with DBC and timelines for installation. The Contractor will be required to provide a

dedicated individual to attend regular scheduled, in-person meetings as required based on construction

schedule and topics of the meetings. This individual is required to be one of the key personnel. The state will

ensure that a 3-week look-ahead will be provided regularly by the DBC to help the Contractor understand which

meetings should be attended. The state will facilitate meeting attendance coordination between the Contractor

and the DB Contractor.

The Contractor will be required to communicate and collaborate with the DBC during the planning task to

ensure sensor locations are properly identified within the proposed bridge sections. Update the BMP when final

plan details are provided by the DBC as necessary to accurately show the details.

DB contractor will provide access to the contractor for the Implementation of the Structural Monitoring System

during construction. The state anticipates that access to the bridge will be arranged by the contractor after

opening to traffic.

Schedule

Contractor will develop a baseline schedule based on the Task descriptions and tentative due dates listed

throughout. A draft schedule will be presented at the kick-off meeting and finalized as discussed in Deliverables.

Quality Management Plan

Contractor will develop a project specific QMP for the project. Contractor will update the QMP as necessary at

State’s request. The QMP will specify how Contractor will perform Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control

Draft - Blatnik Bridge Monitoring Scope of Work

MnDOT Contract No. 1063529

Exhibit A: Specifications, Duties, and Scope of Work

(QC) activities throughout the duration of the project to ensure delivery of a quality product in a timely manner

that conforms to established contract requirements.

The QMP will be provided to State within 5 days of NTP.

Contractor is responsible for the completeness and accuracy of its work. All deliverables must be

independently checked and reconciled prior to submittal to State. Review comments from State on

Contractor’s various submittals does not relieve the Contractor of liability for inaccurate or incomplete

work.

With each submittal, Contractor must supply a comment resolution document with response to all State

review comments. Response to all State comments must be well documented and provided with each

resubmission of a deliverable.

At the request of State, Contractor must supply electronic copies of completed QA/QC “check prints” of

various documents.

Key Personnel

Key personnel beyond the PM will be described in the Request for Proposals (RFP). A general description is

included at the end of this document to facilitate understanding of anticipated personnel requirements.

Task 1 Deliverables

• Baseline Schedule

• Quality Management Plan

• Meeting minutes

Phase I Planning

The Contractor will assist the State in determining monitoring goals and strategies to develop a comprehensive,

yet manageable, Bridge Monitoring Plan (BMP). The BMP must capture the behavior of key components of the

structures to be monitored. The contractor will use the approved BMP to develop detailed design plans and

material procurement specifications for installation.

This plan will be developed collaboratively with the Contractor, the State, the DBC, and the State’s Design-Build

Verification Oversight (DBVO) team.

During Phase 1, the State will determine the extent of SHM components to include in Phase 2, considering

further study and any innovation(s) proposed by the Contractor’s team.

Task 2: Monitoring Goals and Strategies

The Contractor will assist the State in establishing monitoring goals and strategies for the development of a

Bridge Monitoring Plan. The intention of this task is to ensure a common understanding of the State’s objectives

while providing a road map for the development of a more detailed plan in Task 3 and subsequent Phases.

Draft - Blatnik Bridge Monitoring Scope of Work

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Blatnik Bridge Structural Health Monitoring System Design and Implementation

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