Major I-394 and I-494 closures resume as Hwy 280 shuts down through State Fair
Starting Monday Highway 280 will be fully closed from I‑94 in St. Paul to Hwy 36/I‑35W in Roseville and will remain shut until late August, reopening before the Minnesota State Fair. In the meantime both directions of I‑394 between Hwy 100 and downtown Minneapolis will be fully closed 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, March 2 for ramp and bridge work, and I‑494 will be fully closed both directions between I‑35W and Hwy 77 from 10 p.m. March 6 to 5 a.m. March 9 for a bridge removal, with six ramps (the Nicollet/12th Ave connections) now permanently closed.
📌 Key Facts
- Highway 280 will be fully closed from I-94 in St. Paul to Hwy 36/I-35W in Roseville starting Monday and will remain closed until late August, reopening before the Minnesota State Fair.
- The Highway 280 shutdown is part of the construction season work in the area.
- Both directions of I-394 between Hwy 100 and downtown Minneapolis will be fully closed from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, March 2.
- The I-394 closure is for work on 34 ramps and bridges and will be accompanied by intermittent I-94 lane closures in Minneapolis.
- I-494 will be fully closed in both directions between I-35W and Hwy 77 from 10 p.m. March 6 to 5 a.m. March 9 for the second of two bridge removals.
- Six ramps have been confirmed permanently closed; all involve Nicollet/12th Ave connections.
📊 Relevant Data
The Minneapolis metro area population has increased from 2,087,000 in 1990 to 3,039,000 in 2025, contributing to higher traffic volumes and the need for infrastructure improvements on highways like I-394, I-494, and Highway 280.
Minneapolis Metro Area Population (1950-2026) — MacroTrends
Immigration contributed to 75% of Minnesota's population change from 2020 to 2024, with over 81,000 new immigrants moving to the state.
Immigration became the leading component of population growth in Minnesota — Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota has the fifth highest rate of refugee resettlement in the nation, with nearly 3,000 refugees resettled in 2024, or 52 refugee arrivals per 100,000 residents.
The past, present, and future of immigration in Minnesota — MN Compass
Refugee resettlement in Minnesota was facilitated by the federal Refugee Act of 1980 and partnerships with faith-based organizations such as Lutheran Social Service and Catholic Charities, helping reverse population decline in areas like Minneapolis in the 1970s.
In the 1970s, Minneapolis faced a population death spiral. Guess who came to the rescue — Sahan Journal
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Highway 280 will be fully closed from I-94 in St. Paul to Hwy 36/I-35W in Roseville starting Monday and remain closed until late August, reopening before the Minnesota State Fair.
- Both directions of I-394 between Hwy 100 and downtown Minneapolis will be fully closed from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, March 2, as part of work on 34 ramps and bridges, with intermittent I‑94 lane closures in Minneapolis.
- I-494 will be fully closed in both directions between I-35W and Hwy 77 from 10 p.m. March 6 to 5 a.m. March 9 for the second of two bridge removals, along with confirmation of six permanently closed ramps (all Nicollet/12th Ave connections listed).