The Austin City Council is on board with the plan to rebuild the first bridge on Interstate 90 using Vision 2020’s plan to beautify the road through Austin.

The council approved the city’s $150,000 share of the upcoming replacement for the 11th Drive Northeast over Interstate 90 planned for 2017.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will replace the bridge and pay for some of the aesthetics additions, but the bulk of the city’s costs will be used to upgrade sidewalk width on the bridge from 6 to 10 feet, which will add about $100,000 to the project and cause the need for an extra bridge beam.

The city is also paying up to $25,000 for plantings and landscaping near the bridge.

The work is being done under new specifications outlined in the Visual Quality Manual, which was developed by Vision 2020’s Gateway to Austin Committee.

The plan outlines ways the beautify the I-90 corridor through Austin with landscaping, bridge designs and wider sidewalks.