Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

I-90 bridge reconstruction

Austin

About this project

I-90 bridge reconstruction project map
I-90 bridge reconstruction project map

Summary of work

I-90 is an important national east-west transportation route that connects many population centers in the U.S. in the Austin area. I-90 was built in the 1950s and the structures are at the end of their useful design life.

There are six sites along I-90 in Austin that have bridges that are scheduled to be replaced or repaired 2024 to 2026. A bridge at 11th Dr. NE was replaced in 2017 and a bridge at 28th St. NE was replaced in 2021.

Construction in 2024 is scheduled to begin April 19, with some prep work possibly starting a few days earlier. Construction is anticipated to go through the fall.

Which bridges are part of this project?

There are six bridges along I-90 in Austin involved in the project with each having different needs. This video outlines the project.

2024-2025
Oakland Ave. W / Hwy 105

A new bridge will be constructed at Oakland Ave. (Hwy 105) over I-90. Oakland Ave. will be closed during construction. The new bridge will include a wide walkway, which will connect to a future city/county trail. Construction is scheduled to begin April 19, 2024. View the proposed design.

4th St. / Co. Rd. 45

A new interchange will be constructed to replace the current interchange. The new layout will provide for safer walkway crossings of I-90 and improved traffic flow. 4th St. will be closed for construction starting in the fall of 2024 and through the majority of the 2025 construction season. 14th St. will be used as the detour route. This construction is currently scheduled for 2024-2025. Construction is scheduled to begin late-summer 2024. View the proposed design.

6th St.

Both I-90 bridges over 6th St. will be resurfaced along with the construction of two new highway bridges over the Cedar River. Construction on the I-90 eastbound bridge at the Cedar River and 6th St. is scheduled to start in late-May or early June in 2024. The I-90 westbound bridge work at the Cedar River and 6t St. will occur in the 2025 construction season. 6th St. under I-90 will remain open during this construction.

2026
14th St. / Hwy 218 North

The two bridges at this location will be replaced by one bridge and roundabouts will be constructed at each ramp intersection with 14th St. The southbound bridge will stay open to the extent possible during construction. Short duration detours will be provided at 4th St. This construction is currently scheduled for 2026. View the proposed design.

21st St. / Hwy 218 South

The 21st St. bridge and the south ramps will be reconstructed. The new bridge crossing will provide a wide walkway and connections to local trails. 21st St. will be closed during construction. 11th Dr. and 28th St. will be available for short detours. This construction is currently scheduled for 2026. View the proposed design.

Traffic impacts

I-90 Oakland bridge detour map
I-90 Oakland Ave. bridge detour

I-90 motorists will experience lane closures near the bridge beginning April 11, as crews prepare for construction.

The Oakland Ave. bridge over I-90 will be closed and detoured during construction. Construction is scheduled to begin April 19. Ramps will be open for the majority of the time.

  • Motorists traveling west on Oakland Ave. should use the on-ramp to I-90 eastbound, then take Exit 177 to Hwy 218, take a left over the bridge and use the on-ramp to I-90 westbound. Next, motorists should use Exit 175 to go west on Oakland Ave./Co. Rd. 46.
  • Motorists traveling east on Oakland Ave. should use the on-ramp to I-90 westbound, then take Exit 166 to Co. Rd. 46, take a left and use the on-ramp to I-90 eastbound. Next, motorists should use Exit 175 to go east on Oakland Ave.

Oakland Avenue bridge demolition is scheduled to begin in the evening of April 19 and be completed by 5 a.m., April  22. I-90 will be closed under the bridge during this time with through traffic detoured up the exit and down the entrance ramps.

There will be occasional ramp closures at Oakland Ave. Once the schedule is determined, the dates will be put on the website and communicated through the project update emails.

  • I-90 eastbound motorists will be detoured to Exit 175 (Hwy 218).
  • I-90 westbound motorists will be detoured to Exit 166 (Co. Rd. 46).

During beam setting and deck pours, traffic for I-90 eastbound and westbound will be detoured up the exit and down the entrance ramps. As schedules are determined, the dates will be put on the website and communicated through the project update emails.