MnDOT announces Interstate 90 lane closures through Austin beginning September 5th

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Monday that Interstate 90 motorists will encounter lane closures through Austin beginning Sept. 5 as construction crews build median crossover lanes to prepare for the start of a three-year bridge construction project in 2024. 

The MnDOT contractor will be building three crossover lanes in the median through Austin. The left lanes of eastbound and westbound I-90 will be closed to allow crews to safely work. Work is expected to be completed in early October. Motorists will have access to all off- and on-ramps.

 There are six sites along I-90 in Austin that have bridges that are scheduled to be replaced or repaired from 2024 to 2026. A bridge at 11th Dr. NE was replaced in 2017 and a bridge at 28th St. NE was replaced in 2021.  A new bridge will be constructed at Oakland Avenue, or Highway 105 over I-90.  Highway 105 will be closed during construction, and a detour will be provided using 14th Street.  MnDOT stated that this construction is currently scheduled for 2024.  

Another bridge project will be taking place at 4th Street and County Road 45, as 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.

Officials with MnDOT also announced that both I-90 bridges over 6th St. will be resurfaced along with the construction of two new highway bridges over the Cedar River. It is anticipated that the EB I-90 bridge work at the Cedar River and 6th St. will occur in the 2024 construction season and the WB I-90 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.  In 2026, the two bridges at 14th Street and U.S. Highway 218 North will be replaced by one bridge and roundabouts will be constructed at each ramp intersection with 14th Street.  The southbound bridge will stay open to the extent possible during construction. Short duration detours will be provided at 4th Street.  

Also scheduled for 2026 will be the reconstruction of the bridge at 21st St. and Highway 218 South.  MnDOT stated that the new bridge crossing will provide a wide walkway and connections to local trails. 21st St. will be closed during construction, and 11th Dr. and 28th St. will be available for short detours.