I-90 bridge reconstruction

Traffic impacts

Scheduled bridge demolitions

Highway 218 north (14th Street NW) bridge near Riverland Community College:

• Motorists who cross I-90 in Austin at Highway 218 North/14th Street NW will be moved into single lane traffic in each direction on the southbound bridge beginning the afternoon of Wednesday, April 22.
• Beginning at noon on Friday, April 24, the southbound bridge will close and traffic will be detoured. At 7 p.m., the northbound bridge demo will begin and I-90 will be detoured through 6 a.m. on Monday, April 27.

Detours

Highway 218 north/ 14th Street NW bridge demo (April 24-27)

• I-90 traffic in each direction will travel up and down the ramps to continue. Right turns allowed at exit.
• I-90 westbound traffic headed to 14th Street NW near Riverland Community College exit I-90 at Exit 175 (Highway 105/West Oakland Avenue), turn left (east) on Highway 105/West Oakland Avenue.
• I-90 eastbound traffic to Hwy 218 north will exit at 178A (4th Street Northwest/Mower County Road 45), turn left (north) on County Road 45, turn left (west) on Mower County Road 27 (18th Avenue Northwest).
• Highway 218 traffic to reach I-90 westbound can make a right turn at the on-ramp. Bridge is closed during demolition. Motorists wanting to reach I-90 eastbound or 14th St NW should go east on Mower County Road 27 (18th Avenue NW) to 4th St NW/Mower County Road 45 south to W Oakland Avenue west.
• 14th Street NW to north of I-90: W. Oakland Avenue east to 4th Street NW north. 

After the northbound bridge demo, traffic will be allowed to cross the bridge in single lanes in each direction on the southbound bridge until late June. This is when the second bridge will be demolished and crews begin construction on the city of Austin sanitary sewer crossing between I-90 and 18th Avenue, and construction of roundabouts on the north and south sides of the I-90/218 north interchange.

I-90 westbound off-ramp to 4th Street NW closed

• Detour: Take the 14th Street NW/Highway 218 north exit (Exit 177).
• To reach 4th Street north of I-90, take a right onto Highway 218 and a right on 18th Avenue NW which intersects with 4th Street NW.

On-ramp to I-90 westbound from 6th Street NE closed

• Detour for I-90 westbound on-ramp is to travel eastbound on I-90, exit at Exit 179 (11th Drive NE), cross over and return to I-90 westbound.
• The off-ramp from I-90 westbound to 6th Street NE is open and I-90 eastbound ramps are open.

I-90 between 6th Street NE and 4th Street NW

• Traffic shifts occur and motorists travel in single lanes adjacent to each.

About this project

Summary of work

There are six sites along I-90 in Austin that have bridges that are scheduled to be replaced or repaired 2024 to 2026. In a separate, earlier, project, a bridge at 11th Drive NE was replaced in 2017 and a bridge at 28th Street NE was replaced in 2021.

Bridges involved

There are six sites along I-90 in Austin involved in the project with each having different needs.

2024

Oakland Avenue W/ Highway 105

A new bridge was constructed at Oakland Avenue (Highway 105) over I-90. The new bridge includes a wide walkway, which will connect to a future city/county trail. It opened to traffic on Oct. 18, 2024. View the design.

4th Street/ County Road 45

Construction of a new bridge was completed Nov. 21, 2025. The new layout will provide for safer walkway crossings of I-90 and improved traffic flow. View the design (JPG).

2025-2026

6th Street and Cedar River

Both I-90 bridges over 6th Street will be resurfaced and two new I-90 bridges over the Cedar River will be constructed. Work on the eastbound bridges was finished in fall of 2024. The I-90 westbound bridge work over 6th Street and the Cedar River will occur in the 2025-2026 construction season.

2026

14th Street/ Highway 218 North

The two bridges at this location 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. This construction is currently scheduled for 2026. View the proposed design (PNG).

21st Street/ Highway 218 South

The 21st Street bridge and the south ramps will be reconstructed. The new bridge crossing will provide a wide walkway and connections to local trails. 21st Street will be closed during construction. 11th Drive and 28th Street will be available for short detours. This construction is currently scheduled for 2026. View the proposed design (JPG).

Why they are being replaced

I-90 is an important national east-west transportation route that connects many population centers in the U.S. in the Austin area. I-90 was built in the 1950s and the structures are at the end of their useful design life.