May 24 – AUSTIN, Minn. – Motorists traveling on Interstate 90 in Austin will experience single-lane traffic and eastbound on-ramps at Fourth and Sixth Streets beginning Friday, May 31, as the Austin I-90 bridge project progresses, reports said. the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The eastbound I-90 bridge over 6th Street will resurface from May 31 through fall 2024, and replacement of the eastbound I-90 bridge over the Cedar River will begin June 3. The following traffic effects will occur:
*I-90 eastbound lanes are closed between Oakland Avenue and Highway 218 South. I-90 traffic will travel in the westbound lanes, while eastbound and westbound traffic will use single lanes side by side.
*The eastbound I-90 exit to 6th St will be closed and detoured:
* Motorists traveling eastbound on I-90 should use Exit 179 (11th Dr), turn left and use the on-ramp to I-90 westbound. Next, motorists should take exit 178B, the 6th St exit.
*I-90 eastbound ramp from 6th St will be closed and detoured:
* Motorists should take the westbound ramp of I-90 from 6th St., then take Exit 177 (Hwy 218 N/14th St NW), turn left and use the eastbound ramp of I-90 to get back onto to get on the highway.
*The eastbound I-90 exit to 4th St will be closed and detoured:
* Motorists traveling eastbound on I-90 should use Exit 179 (11th Dr), turn left and use the on-ramp to I-90 westbound. Next, motorists should take Exit 178A, the 4th St exit.
*I-90 eastbound ramp from 4th St will be closed and detoured:
*Motorists should take I-90 westbound from 4th St, then take Exit 177 (Hwy 218 N/14th St NW), turn left and use I-90 eastbound to rejoin the freeway.
If you are using boats, kayaks or canoes on the Cedar River in Austin, please note that the river will be closed to personal watercraft beginning Monday, June 3 at I-90.
Crews will demolish the east bridge and remove the center pier. After the removal work, it remains dangerous to be on the water at this location as construction crews build the new pier and abutments near or in the river channel.
During the I-90 bridge replacement, that portion of the Cedar River State Water Trail will be off-limits to paddlers and boaters passing through that section upstream or downstream, where the city has a boat ramp on Austin Mill Pond.
For people using the new canoe/kayak access below Ramsey Dam (3 river miles upstream of I-90), a small rock access is available on Wolf Creek in Austin’s Wildwood Park to get off the river. Rowers should turn upstream at the V-shaped confluence just north of I-90 and paddle about 100 yards upstream. The road access is located on 17th Avenue Northeast, approximately 200 feet east of the landing.
This work is part of the three-year project that will replace or repair bridges at six locations along the I-90 corridor in Austin.
*Oakland Ave. West (Highway 105), replaced in 2024, work started in April
* I-90 above Sixth Street Northeast, rehabilitate in 2024-2025, work to begin in early June
* I-90 above Cedar River, replaced in 2024-2025, work to begin in early June
* Fourth Street Northwest, replaced in 2024-2025
* 14th Street Northwest (Highway 218 north), replaced in 2026
* 21st Street Northeast (Highway 218 south), replaced in 2026
For more information about the project, visit the MnDOT project website.
