I-90 bridge will be partially closed until November

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is closing a portion of the Interstate 90 bridge in southeastern Minnesota, as crews continue to work on a new bridge over that portion of the Mississippi River.

Starting today, the westbound I-90 off-ramp to Highway 61 will close for drivers traveling west from La Crosse, Wis., to Minnesota.

Marked detour signs will divert drivers approximately 6 miles and add about 10 minutes of travel time, said Mark Anderson, the project's construction manager. Motorists should follow westbound I-90 and take the Dresbach exit, 273 B&A, to eastbound I-90.

"Traffic is going to be down to one lane," Anderson said. "It'll be on the outside lane or the right lane, both directions."

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The rest area and travel center near La Crosse will also close as part of the project.

The detour will be in effect until the fall, as crews continue to work on the new bridge.

"This traffic is for this summer, so it'll be taken down late November this year," Anderson said. "So it'll be back to four lanes by end of November."

Work on the $187 million project is expected to continue through 2016. When finished, there will be two separate bridges upstream from the existing bridge, which will be demolished in 2017.