Hwy 280 both directions closed through late August; key I-94 ramps, local streets also hit
MnDOT will fully close Highway 280 between I-94 in St. Paul and Highway 36/I-35W in Roseville starting April 13 for northbound lanes and April 29 for southbound lanes, with both directions shut through late August.
Through traffic will be detour via I-35W or I-94, Highway 36 and I-35E, and no signed local detours will be posted. Broadway Street will see closures between Highway 280 and Industrial Boulevard and Energy Park Drive will be cut to one lane each way under 280. Key I-94 ramps at University Avenue are already closed and will remain so until late August, and Franklin Avenue ramps to I-94 will close April 29. MnDOT also plans a brief eastbound I-94 weekend closure April 10-13 that will affect ramps from southbound 280 and Franklin Avenue before those ramps shut again for the longer 280 work.
The work is a major repaving and bridge-repair project tied to several safety improvements in St. Paul. MnDOT says crews plan to reopen Highway 280 before the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, but lane and ramp closures will resume after the fair and continue into fall 2026. The agency also plans additional bridge work and improvements that will return crews in spring 2028. Local outlets and MnDOT social posts have urged drivers to plan alternate routes and expect delays.
Coverage first flagged the northbound closure beginning April 13 and later confirmed the southbound shutdown set for April 29 as project details firmed up. Reporting has added specifics on local street impacts and the staggered I-94 ramp closures tied to the John Ireland Bridge and other nearby work.
Drivers should expect heavier traffic on Cleveland, Raymond and Snelling avenues and plan extra travel time. MnDOT reminders and local posts urge patience as crews complete the multi-month repairs and highway users seek alternate routes.
š Key Facts
- Northbound Highway 280 will fully close at 5:00 a.m. Monday, April 13, and southbound Highway 280 will fully close at 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 29; both directions will remain shut through late August and are scheduled to briefly reopen before the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, with lane and ramp closures resuming after the fair and continuing into fall 2026. MnDOT plans to return in spring 2028 for additional bridge work and improvements.
- Through traffic will be detoured via Iā35W or Iā94, Hwy 36 and Iā35E; MnDOT will not post signed local detours, so drivers should expect route changes to use regional highways.
- Local streets will carry more traffic: Cleveland Avenue, Raymond Avenue, Snelling Avenue and other neighborhood streets are expected to see heavier volumes during the Hwy 280 closures.
- Broadway Street NE will have lane closures beginning April 13 and a full closure starting April 29 (closed between Hwy 280 and Industrial Blvd), and Energy Park Drive will be reduced to one lane each way under Hwy 280.
- Key Iā94 ramp impacts: University Avenue ramps from both directions of Iā94 are already closed and will remain closed until late August; Franklin Avenue ramps to both directions of Iā94 will close April 29.
- Some ramp closures are tied to the concurrent John Ireland Bridge/Iā94 work: the ramps from southbound Hwy 280 and Franklin Avenue to eastbound Iā94 closed the weekend of April 10ā13 for an Iā94 closure, briefly reopened, then are scheduled to close again April 29 through late August.
š° Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms southbound Hwy 280 will close at 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, joining the already-closed northbound lanes, with both directions shut through late August.
- Details that Franklin Avenue ramps to both directions of I-94 will close April 29, and University Avenue ramps from both directions of I-94 are already closed and will remain closed until late August.
- Adds specific local-street impacts: Broadway Street closed between Hwy 280 and Industrial Blvd, and Energy Park Drive reduced to one lane each way under Hwy 280, with no signed local detours and heavier traffic expected on Cleveland, Raymond and Snelling.
- Clarifies that after reopening before the 2026 State Fair, lane and ramp closures will resume after the fair and run through fall 2026, and that MnDOT plans to return again in spring 2028 for additional bridge work and improvements.
- Northbound Highway 280 between Iā94 in St. Paul and Hwy 36/Iā35W in Roseville will fully close starting 5 a.m. Monday, April 13, and remain closed through late August.
- Southbound Highway 280 will fully close beginning April 29 and also stay closed through late August, with both directions scheduled to reopen before the 2026 Minnesota State Fair but with lane and ramp closures continuing into fall 2026.
- Through traffic will be detoured via Iā35W or Iā94, Hwy 36 and Iā35E, while no signed local detours will be posted ā meaning heavier traffic is expected on Cleveland and Raymond avenues and other local streets.
- Broadway St NE will see lane closures starting April 13 and a full closure starting April 29; Energy Park Dr will be reduced to one lane each way under 280; key Iā94 ramps at University Ave and Franklin Ave will close on specific April dates tied to both the 280 work and the John Ireland Bridge project.
- MnDOT confirms the ramps from southbound 280 and Franklin Ave to eastbound Iā94 will close the weekend of April 10ā13 for an Iā94 closure, then reopen briefly before shutting again April 29 through late August.