Overnight I-90 detours planned May 19-23 in Austin during bridge beam placement

AUSTIN, Minn. – Motorists on Interstate 90 in Austin will be detoured each night May 19-23 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., while construction crews place bridge beams over the road at 4th Street Northwest, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

I-90 detours will start at 8 p.m. each night and end the next morning by 6 a.m. This schedule continues from the evening of May 19 through the morning of May 23.

The beam placement for the Austin I-90 bridges project marks a project milestone and signals additional changes for motorists in Year 2 of this three-year $50 million construction project at six sites in Austin. The new bridge will open to traffic at 4th Street Northwest by late fall.

During the daily overnight beam placement, motorists will be detoured 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.:

Eastbound I-90 traffic will be slowed to travel up and down the off- and on-ramps at 4th Street Northwest.
Westbound I-90 traffic will be detoured off I-90 at Highway 218 south (Exit 180 B) on the east side of Austin. Travel south on Highway 218 to Mower County Road 28 west to Highway 105 north where it will reconnect with I-90 on the west side of Austin at the Highway 105/Oakland Avenue bridge. Westbound traffic will be able reach Austin destinations by using exits at:

Oakland Place Northeast (Exit 180 A)
11th Drive Northeast (Exit 179)
6th Street Northeast (178B) - No traffic will be allowed past this exit during the nightly closures.

Construction timetable at six sites from 2024-2026:

Oakland Avenue West (Highway 105), replaced in 2024. Bridge opened to traffic on Oct. 18.
I-90 over Sixth Street Northeast, rehabilitation. Eastbound completed in 2024. Westbound work planned in 2025.
I-90 over Cedar River, replacements. Eastbound done in 2024. Westbound work planned in 2025.
Fourth Street Northwest, replace in 2024-2025, detours started in May.
14th Street Northwest (Highway 218 north), replace in 2026.
21st Street Northeast (Highway 218 south), replace in 2026.

To learn more about the project, visit the MnDOT project website where you can also sign up to receive email and text message updates.

Safety in work zones

Motorists should always be prepared to encounter traffic changes when approaching work zones including lane closures, lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, slow-moving heavy equipment and slow or stopped traffic. To keep everyone safe, drivers must:

Obey posted speed limits. The fine for speeding in a work zone is $300.
Drive undistracted. Avoid using cell phones, mobile devices, adjusting the radio – even eating –while in work zones.
Move over. Give workers room to safely complete their work.
Know before you go. Get real-time information about traffic and road conditions at 511mn.org or get the free 511mn smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
Do the zipper merge.
Avoid making unnecessary lane changes.
Never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.

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