I-90 bridge reconstruction

Traffic impacts

Scheduled bridge demolitions

• 8 p.m. Friday, April 17 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 20, Highway 218 south (21st Street NE) near Austin Municipal Airport
• 8 p.m. 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 bridge (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 181 at 28th Street Northeast, travel south on Mower County Road 58, turn right (west) on Mower County Road 3 (16th Avenue Southeast) to Highway 218.
• I-90 eastbound traffic wanting to reach 21st Street Northeast north of I-90 to destinations like the Hormel Nature Center, will travel east to Exit 181 (28th St. NE) cross I-90 and take the westbound on-ramp to the westbound off-ramp (Exit 180B) to 21st Street NE.
• Highway 218 south traffic that wants to travel west on I-90 will turn east on Mower County Road 3 (16th Avenue Southeast) to Mower County Road 58 north to the 28th Street Northeast bridge, cross I-90 on the bridge and enter the highway on the ramp. Motorists on Highway 218 wanting to travel east on I-90 can use the 21st Street Northeast bridge to enter I-90.
• 21st Street Northeast traffic may use the ramp to enter westbound I-90. Motorists who want to continue south onto Highway 218 south will enter westbound I-90 and exit at Exit 179 at 11th Drive Northeast, cross over the highway and return to eastbound I-90, exiting at Exit 180B at Highway 218 south.

Highway 218 north bridge, northbound (April 24-27)

• I-90 through traffic in each direction will travel up and down the ramps to continue. Vehicles will be allowed to right turns at the exit.
• I-90 westbound traffic wanting to reach 14th Street Northwest near Riverland Community College will exit I-90 at Exit 175 (Highway 105/West Oakland Avenue), turn left (east) on Highway 105/West Oakland Avenue to 14th Street Northwest.
• I-90 eastbound traffic wanting to reach Highway 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) to Highway 218.
• Highway 218 traffic wanting to reach I-90 westbound will be allowed to make a right turn to enter via the on-ramp. Traffic will not be able to cross the bridge during the demolition work. Motorists wanting to reach I-90 eastbound or 14th Street Northwest will travel east on Mower County Road 27 (18th Avenue Northwest) to 4th Street Northwest/Mower County Road 45 south to West Oakland Avenue west. Motorists at 14th Street Northwest can reach the north side of I-90 by using West Oakland Avenue west (Highway 105) to I-90 west, travel to Exit 178A at 4th Street Northwest. 

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 Ave., 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 St. 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 St. NW closed

• Detour: Take the 14th St. NW/Hwy 218 north exit (Exit 177).
• To reach 4th St. north of I-90, take a right onto Hwy 218 and a right on 18th Ave. NW which intersects with 4th St. NW.

On-ramp to I-90 westbound from 6th St. NE closed

• Detour for I-90 westbound on-ramp is to travel eastbound on I-90, exit at Exit 179 (11th Dr. NE), cross over and return to I-90 westbound.
• The off-ramp from I-90 westbound to 6th St. NE is open and I-90 eastbound ramps are open.

I-90 between 6th St. NE and 4th St. NW

• Traffic shifts occur and motorists travel in single lanes adjacent to each.

About this project

Summary of work

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

Bridges involved

There are six sites along I-90 in Austin involved in the project with each having different needs.

2024-2025

Oakland Ave. W / Hwy 105

A new bridge was constructed at Oakland Ave. (Hwy 105) over I-90. The new bridge includes a wide walkway, which will connect to a future city/county trail. It opened to traffic on Oct. 18, 2024. View the design.

4th St. / Co. Rd. 45

Construction of a new bridge was completed Nov. 21, 2025. The new layout will provide for safer walkway crossings of I-90 and improved traffic flow. View the design (JPG).

6th St. and Cedar River

Both I-90 bridges over 6th St. will be resurfaced and two new I-90 bridges over the Cedar River will be constructed. Work on the eastbound bridges was finished in fall of 2024. The I-90 westbound bridge work over 6th St. and the Cedar River will occur in the 2025 construction season.

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 (PNG).

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 (JPG).

Why they are being replaced

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.

Update from Nov. 21, 2025

4th St. NW bridge over I-90 opened to traffic along with three of the four I-90 ramps on Nov. 21, 2025. Both eastbound I-90 ramps are open along with the westbound I-90 on-ramp.

The westbound I-90 off-ramp remains closed because the work zone for the ongoing construction of the westbound I-90 Cedar River bridge is at the off-ramp. Work continues on the river bridge and will be completed in 2026. The westbound I-90 on-ramp at 6th St. NE is also closed because of this work zone, but the westbound off-ramp remains open.

Detours for westbound I-90 traffic wanting to exit at 4th Street NW are to travel west to 14th St. NW. Detours for traffic wanting to get on westbound I-90 at 6th Street NE are to travel east on I-90 to 11th Drive NE, cross I-90 and return to westbound I-90 using the on-ramp.

Navigating the single-point urban interchange on 4th St. NW bridge

• Follow the signs and lane markings: The key difference is that one central traffic signal controls all left turns and through traffic. Pay close attention to signs and pavement markings to get into the correct lane for your movement.
• Right turns: You can make a right turn at any time when it is safe, as right turns do not interfere with the main signal phases.
• Left turns: Left turns are phased at the central signal:
• Phase 1: Through traffic (PNG) on the main arterial road.
• Phase 2: Vehicles turning left to exit the interstate (PNG).
• Phase 3: Vehicles turning left to enter the interstate (PNG).
• Go straight: You can proceed through the intersection like a traditional one, but you must do so within the signal phases indicated for through traffic.
• Be aware of larger vehicles: These interchanges are designed to accommodate large vehicles like trucks and buses with wide, gradual turns. Ensure you are giving them ample space, especially when turning.