Weekend I-90 Detours Planned for Bridge Demolitions in Austin

MnDOT announces closures and detours for April bridge demolition work on Highway 218 near Austin Municipal Airport and Riverland Community College

Apr. 1, 2026 at 4:34pm

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The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has announced that Interstate 90 motorists will face two weekend-long detours in April as construction crews demolish the Highway 218 bridges in Austin. The bridges will be demolished over two separate weekends, with traffic being detoured to alternate routes during the closures.

Why it matters

The bridge demolition work is part of a larger construction project along I-90 in Austin that is scheduled to take place from 2024 to 2026. The detours will impact travel in the area, requiring drivers to plan ahead and use alternate routes to reach their destinations during the closures.

The details

On April 17-20, the Highway 218 south (21st Street NE) bridge near the Austin Municipal Airport will be demolished, while on April 24-27, the Highway 218 north (14th Street NW) bridge near Riverland Community College will be taken down. During the demolition work, I-90 through traffic will be able to continue using the ramps, but drivers will need to follow the designated detour routes to access specific areas.

  • The Highway 218 south bridge will be demolished from 8 p.m. Friday, April 17 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 20.
  • The Highway 218 north bridge will be demolished from 8 p.m. Friday, April 24 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 27.

The players

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)

The state transportation agency responsible for managing the construction project and announcing the detours for the bridge demolitions.

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What’s next

MnDOT will announce additional detours for when the bridges and ramps remain closed after the demolition work is completed. More information will be shared next week to help motorists plan ahead.

The takeaway

The upcoming bridge demolitions on Highway 218 in Austin will require drivers to plan for weekend-long detours on I-90, highlighting the ongoing construction and infrastructure updates taking place in the region. Motorists should stay informed about the project details and follow the designated detour routes to reach their destinations during the closures.