MnDOT announces Highway 56 detour beginning June 15th

Interstate 90 motorists who are using Hwy 56 as part of their detour for the 28th St. NE bridge project in Austin will be detoured further beginning June 15 when pavement repairs are made on several ramps at Hwy 56, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

 The I-90 westbound entrance ramp at Hwy 56 (Exit 183) and the eastbound exit ramp will be repaved, forcing the closure of those ramps from June 15 to June 18. The westbound exit ramp and the eastbound entrance ramps will remain open, as will the Hwy 56 bridge that crosses I-90.

 Portions of the ramps have deteriorated and MnDOT determined that repaving would extend the life of the ramps and allow for continued use with minimal interruption. Workers will remove pavement and then replace with asphalt. If work is completed sooner than scheduled, the ramps will re-open ahead of schedule.

 During this time, eastbound I-90 motorists using the 28th St. NE bridge detour for locations on the north side of I-90 such as the Austin Country Club and Nexus Gerard Academy will travel further east and use Exit 187 at Mower County Road 20 (220th St.) and then return to I-90 westbound to then exit at the north side of the 28th St. NE bridge.

 Other detours for the 28th St. NE bridge project will remain in effect.

 Detours

•   Westbound I-90 traffic that wants to reach locations on the south side of 28th St. NE or Mower County Road 58 will use Exit 183, turn south (left) on Hwy 56 and then west (right) on 215th St.
•   Southbound traffic on 28th St. NE that wants to cross the bridge or enter eastbound I-90 will detour by entering westbound I-90 and using Exit 180B, crossing I-90, entering eastbound I-90 or exiting at Exit 181 to then travel south on 28th St. NE.

·   Northbound traffic on 28th St. NE that wants to cross the bridge or travel westbound on I-90 will travel east (right) on 215th Street to Hwy 56, turn north (left) to reach I-90. Motorists will enter westbound I-90 and continue or use Exit 181 to reach northside destinations or continue on 28th St. NE.