Traffic impacts
Scheduled bridge demolitions
- Noon Friday, April 17 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 20, Highway 218 south (21st Street NE) near Austin Municipal Airport
- Noon Friday, April 24 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 27, Highway 218 north (14th Street NW) near Riverland Community College
Detours during the demolition
Highway 218 south/ 21st Street NE bridge demo (April 17-20)
- I-90 through traffic in each direction will travel up and down the ramps to continue.
- I-90 westbound traffic wanting to reach Highway 218 south will use Exit 179 at 11th Drive NE cross over the highway and return to eastbound I-90, exiting at Exit 180B.
- I-90 eastbound traffic wanting to reach 21st Street NE north of I-90 to destinations like the Hormel Nature Center, will travel east to Exit 181 (28th Street NE) cross I-90 and take the westbound on-ramp to the westbound off-ramp (Exit 180B) to 21st Street NE.
- Highway 218 traffic that wants to travel west on I-90 will go east to Exit 181 (28th Street NE) cross I-90. Motorists on Highway 218 wanting to travel east on I-90 can use the ramp to enter I-90.
- 21st Street Northeast traffic may use the ramp to enter westbound I-90. Motorists who want to continue onto Highway 218 south will enter westbound I-90 and exit at Exit 179 at 11th Drive NE, cross over the highway and return to eastbound I-90, exiting at Exit 180B.
Highway 218 north/ 14th Street NW bridge demo (April 24-27)
- I-90 traffic in each direction will travel up and down the ramps to continue. Right turns allowed at exit.
- I-90 westbound traffic headed to 14th Street NW near Riverland Community College exit I-90 at Exit 175 (Highway 105/West Oakland Avenue), turn left (east) on Highway 105/West Oakland Avenue.
- I-90 eastbound traffic to Hwy 218 north will exit at 178A (4th Street Northwest/Mower County Road 45), turn left (north) on County Road 45, turn left (west) on Mower County Road 27 (18th Avenue Northwest).
- Highway 218 traffic to reach I-90 westbound can make a right turn at the on-ramp. Bridge is closed during demolition. Motorists wanting to reach I-90 eastbound or 14th St NW should go east on Mower County Road 27 (18th Avenue NW) to 4th St NW/Mower County Road 45 south to W Oakland Avenue west.
- 14th Street NW to north of I-90: W. Oakland Avenue east to 4th Street NW north.
Highway 218 north traffic changes
On April 22, MnDOT will switch traffic to both directions in single lanes in the southbound Highway 218 north of the interchange bridge and begin preparations for the demolition. Afterward, traffic will be allowed to cross the bridge in single lanes in each direction on the southbound bridge until late June when the second bridge will be demolished and crews begin construction on the city of Austin sanitary sewer crossing between I-90 and 18th Avenue, and construction of roundabouts on the north and south sides of the I-90/218 north interchange.
Detours after demolition
MnDOT will announce additional detours for when the bridges and ramps remain closed after demolition. More information will be shared next week to help motorists plan ahead.
Both bridges are expected to reopen in fall 2026.
The westbound Exit 178A (4th Street NW) ramp will reopen later this spring once the westbound I-90 Cedar River bridge work is complete.
I-90 westbound off-ramp to 4th Street NW closed
- Detour: Take the 14th Street NW/Highway 218 north exit (Exit 177).
- To reach 4th Street north of I-90, take a right onto Highway 218 and a right on 18th Avenue NW which intersects with 4th Street NW.
On-ramp to I-90 westbound from 6th Street NE closed
- Detour for I-90 westbound on-ramp is to travel eastbound on I-90, exit at Exit 179 (11th Drive NE), cross over and return to I-90 westbound.
- The off-ramp from I-90 westbound to 6th Street NE is open and I-90 eastbound ramps are open.
I-90 between 6th Street NE and 4th Street NW
- Traffic shifts occur and motorists travel in single lanes adjacent to each.
