One of Burnsville's most notorious traffic headaches is finally getting a serious fix. The jammed intersection where Highway 13 meets Nicollet Avenue is slated for a full overhaul, with MnDOT planning to scrap the stoplights and build a grade-separated overpass. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with new ramps and a realigned highway aimed at cutting chronic backups and crashes that have dogged drivers and nearby residents for years. City officials are already warning that the cure will not be painless, with lengthy closures and lane reductions expected during construction, so drivers should brace for detours and delays once the next construction season rolls around.
Earlier this month, the Burnsville City Council signed off on MnDOT's plan to remove the signalized intersection and replace it with an overpass, a move Mayor Elizabeth Kautz framed as the long-awaited payoff to years of lobbying. "We’ve been waiting for this for years," she said, according to the Star Tribune. The project, estimated at roughly $45 to $55 million, will nudge Highway 13 slightly to the south, add on and off ramps, and create new walking and biking connections. Burnsville will contribute about $210,000 to the effort. Officials told the paper that traffic at the intersection can stack up as far as 500 feet and that the crash rate there is above the state average, which they say is the key reason MnDOT is pursuing a full interchange.
The City of Burnsville is pitching the work as a broader mobility upgrade, not just a way to get impatient drivers home a little faster. The redesign is intended to better connect the Burnsville Transit Station, the Heart of the City area, and the Ports of Savage while also improving walking and biking access, according to the City of Burnsville. The municipal site notes that the city is seeking state and federal funding to help pay for the mobility improvements and has posted maps and design concepts for residents to review.
Noise walls and a local vote
As part of the makeover, MnDOT has floated multiple noise wall segments along Highway 13 and mailed ballots to nearby property owners and residents who would see at least a five-decibel reduction in traffic noise. The agency's noise wall voting window runs through Friday, March 27, according to MnDOT. The department uses a weighted voting system that assigns points based on how much benefit a voter would receive and whether that voter owns the property. If the required share of ballots does not come back, that particular wall drops out of the project. To walk people through the process and field questions, MnDOT also invited the public to a virtual noise wall meeting on Tuesday, March 24.
Timeline and construction expectations
MnDOT's design-build information for the Nicollet Avenue interchange lays out the procurement schedule and budget targets. The page lists "Letting Aug. 19, 2026" and notes that construction is expected to begin in 2027, according to MnDOT. The agency is recruiting design-build teams and expects the project to land in the $45 to $55 million range, with consultant contracts handling post-letting oversight. That schedule points to heavy staging, shifting traffic patterns, and detours near Nicollet as crews roll into the area and gear up for the full build.
Why this matters
The intersection is a crucial link for both freight and commuters. MnDOT has described Highway 13 as the second most congested freight corridor in the Twin Cities, and officials say the new interchange should smooth travel for trucks, transit riders, and neighborhood drivers while cutting down on crashes. Local engineers and city leaders argue that the temporary pain of construction is worth the long-term gains in safety and reliability, according to the Star Tribune.
