Oct. 22 – Motorists on Interstate 90 near the Cedar River in Austin will experience brief traffic disruptions from 7 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday as crews deliver and install beams on the eastern Cedar River bridge, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Traffic on I-90 in both directions will be halted for approximately 15 minutes each time a beam is delivered to the construction site just east of the Fourth Street Northwest interchange. The truck delivering the beam arrives in the eastbound lanes, stops and allows cranes to secure the beam and lift it into place above the river. Once the beam is removed from the truck, the truck departs and traffic resumes until the next delivery. Nine beams are delivered and installed overnight.
The Eastern Cedar River Bridge is expected to be completed this season and reopen to traffic in the coming months. Crews will return in the spring of 2025 to replace the westbound I-90 Cedar River bridge.
The next step in the project is the demolition of the Fourth Street Northwest bridge, which is expected to take place in early November. Later this month, MnDOT will announce traffic detour routes during demolition and construction. Construction is expected to last this season through November 2025.
Here you will find an overview of the construction work at the six locations in the period 2024-2026:
—Oakland Avenue West (Highway 105), replaced in 2024. Bridge opened to traffic on October 18.
—I-90 above Sixth Street Northeast, rehabilitate in 2024-2025, detours began in May
—I-90 over Cedar River, replaced in 2024-2025, traffic impacts began May 31
—Fourth Street Northwest, replaced in 2024-2025, detours began in May
—14th Street Northwest (Highway 218 north), replaced in 2026
—21st Street Northeast (Highway 218 south), replaced in 2026
