Starting April 13, both directions of Highway 280 between I‑94 in St. Paul and Highway 36/I‑35W in Roseville will go completely dark to traffic for a major reconstruction project. State transportation officials plan to cram a season’s worth of resurfacing, bridge work, and ramp rebuilding into one long shutdown, sending commuters onto nearby interstates and arterial streets through the spring and summer. The highway is expected to reopen before the Minnesota State Fair in late August, but drivers, transit riders, and nearby businesses should get ready now for detours, lane reductions, and limited access at Broadway and Energy Park Drive while crews are on site.
Northbound 280 is scheduled to go first, with traffic shut off at 5 a.m. on April 13. Southbound lanes will follow later in April once work on Broadway Street wraps up, according to KARE 11. State officials say the closure covers the full stretch from I‑94 to Highway 36/I‑35W and is designed so crews can finish resurfacing, drainage improvements, and bridge repairs within the 2026 construction season. While the mainline highway is expected to be open again before the State Fair crowds roll in, MnDOT cautions that lane closures and ramp work may continue into the fall.
Detours and Ramp Shutdowns
With 280 offline, traffic will be pushed onto I‑35W or I‑94, then over to Highway 36 and I‑35E to get around the work zone, as reported by FOX 9. Several ramps are slated to be closed for the season, including ramps from Franklin Avenue to I‑94 and the ramp from I‑94 to University Avenue. That setup is expected to tack on extra minutes for many East Metro commutes and make some familiar shortcuts suddenly off limits. MnDOT and local partners say they will sign regional detours, but they are blunt that drivers should plan for longer trips or pick different routes during the busiest hours.
Local Access and Lane Changes
According to MnDOT, Energy Park Drive will be squeezed down to one lane in each direction under Highway 280, and Broadway Street will be closed at the highway itself. Nearby businesses will keep access, but customers and delivery trucks will be steered in via alternate routes instead of their usual direct turns. The agency pegs this 2026 phase of work at about $34 million and folds in repairs to bridges over the University transitway, Energy Park Drive, Como Avenue, and several other crossings. Even after the highway reopens to through traffic, drivers can expect some ramp closures and lane shifts, and MnDOT has additional bridge and safety upgrades penciled in for future years.
Why a Full Closure?
“A full closure allows crews to finish construction quickly and safely,” MnDOT notes on its project page, arguing that one intense season of disruption is better than years of rolling lane closures that shove traffic into neighborhood streets over and over. Agency engineers told local councils that closing the road lets crews tackle complex bridge repairs without constantly working inches from live traffic, including work that has to happen across active rail and transit corridors. The strategy is also supposed to shorten the total time nearby residents live with construction noise, dust, and detours. As part of the long‑term safety changes, MnDOT also plans to permanently remove the left‑turn movement from Highway 280 onto Broadway St. Northeast.
Neighborhoods and Businesses
Local reporting shows MnDOT has been working with businesses along the corridor to preserve delivery access and set up temporary truck turnarounds where they are needed, while some crossings, such as the University transitway, may see brief interruptions when crews are working overhead, according to Park Bugle. City and county officials say most cross streets will remain open, but they are urging drivers not to dive onto small residential streets as cut‑throughs because of weight limits and basic safety concerns. Property owners and freight operators should brace for more winding routes and are being encouraged to connect with MnDOT’s project team for customized business access plans.
How To Plan Your Trip
Transit riders are being told to double‑check schedules, since Metro Transit routes serving the 280 corridor may run on adjusted timetables or alignments during construction, per Metro Transit. Drivers can keep an eye on real‑time traffic and incidents at 511mn.org. MnDOT recommends Snelling Avenue as a key local detour where it fits the trip and urges people to sign up for project email alerts so they get the latest on closures, openings, and traffic shifts. As the April start date approaches, the agency and local media are expected to keep updating the public on what is open, what is not, and how long the pain is likely to last.
