Hwy 280 in St. Paul to close for major construction beginning April 13
Hwy 280 expected to reopen in late August with ramp, lane closures continuing through fall
ROSEVILLE, Minn. —The Minnesota Department of Transportation will begin a phased, full closure of Hwy 280 on April 13 as crews start making safety improvements, and road and bridge repairs between Interstate 94 in St. Paul and Hwy 36/I-35W in Roseville.
The closure will occur in two phases:
- Northbound Hwy 280 will close first beginning April 13 at 5 a.m. through late August.
- Southbound Hwy 280 will close later in April after crews complete work at Broadway Street to maintain access for commercial truck traffic during construction. All southbound lanes will remain closed through late August.
“A full closure allows crews to complete this work more safely and in a single construction season,” said Chris Bower, North Area Engineer. “We understand this is a significant impact to the community and appreciate the public’s patience as we make long-term improvements to this important corridor.”
Hwy 280, in both directions, is expected to reopen in late August, prior to the start of the 2026 Minnesota State Fair.
Following the State Fair, motorists can expect lane and ramp closures through fall 2026 as crews complete final construction activities.
What to expect
During the full closure, Hwy 280 through traffic will be directed to a regional detour using I-35W or I-94, Hwy 36 and I-35E. There will be no signed local detours, but motorists should expect increased traffic on surrounding local streets. Cross streets will remain open except Broadway Street. Energy Park Drive will be reduced to one lane in both directions under Hwy 280. The ramps to both directions of I-94 from Franklin Avenue and the ramps to University Avenue from both directions of I-94 will also be closed.
All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather and schedule permitting and subject to change.
MnDOT encourages motorists to:
- Be prepared and plan ahead
- Follow posted detour signs
- Consider alternate routes
- Allow extra travel time
About the Hwy 280 project
Beginning in April and continuing through fall 2026, MnDOT will:
- Resurface aging pavement
- Repair and improve bridges
- Repair and resurface ramps
- Replace drainage
- Make additional safety enhancements
These improvements will extend the life of the Hwy and bridges, improve safety and provide a smoother ride for motorists.
In spring 2028, MnDOT will return to complete additional bridge repairs and make safety and accessibility improvements for people traveling along and across Hwy 280.
For more information, including detour maps and project updates, visit:
www.mndot.gov/metro/projects/hwy280stpaul-roseville
###