He joined the Minneapolis City Engineer's Office in 1883 and became Municipal Bridge Engineer in 1893. Oustad designed the Cedar Avenue Bridge, assisted by Frederick T. Paul, assistant bridge engineer, under the direction of city engineer N.W. Elsberg. Oustad assisted Frederick William Cappelen in the design of the Third Avenue Bridge and the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge. He completed the Cappelen Memorial Bridge when Cappelen died. Oustad retired in 1929, after the Cedar Avenue Bridge (now 10th Avenue Bridge) in Minneapolis was completed.[3][4]
Costello, Mary Charlotte (2002) Climbing the Mississippi River Bridge by Bridge, Volume Two (Minnesota. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications) ISBN0-9644518-2-4