MnDOT maps major 2026 metro road work

1d Breaking Twin Cities 1 source 5 relevant data

MnDOT has released its 2026 construction roster, flagging more than 200 road and bridge projects statewide, including a slate of major jobs that will choke and reshape key Twin Cities corridors. In the metro, the agency plans to resurface Hwy 280 through St. Paul, Roseville and Lauderdale, reconstruct Hwy 12 in Wayzata and Minnetonka, start a four‑year buildout of four new interchanges on Hwy 65 in Blaine, replace the aging I‑35E bridge over Shepard Road in St. Paul, continue reconstruction of Hwy 97 in Forest Lake, and keep work going on the Hwy 169/282 interchange in Jordan. 2026 will also be the final year for several multi‑year disruptions, including I‑94 in St. Paul near the Capitol, I‑35W in Burnsville, and the I‑394/I‑94 work in Minneapolis. MnDOT is also backing 51 additional projects on airports, rail crossings, ports and transit, and is already warning drivers to expect heavy construction and to slow down in work zones, pointing them to 511mn.org for real‑time conditions. For metro commuters and freight haulers, this isn’t just orange‑cone wallpaper — it’s the early warning that several core arteries will be torn up at once in 2026, with all the delays and detours that come with it.

Transit & Infrastructure Local Government

📌 Key Facts

MnDOT plans more than 200 road, bridge and other transportation projects statewide for the 2026 construction season, plus 51 aviation, rail, port and transit projects.
Major Twin Cities projects include Hwy 280 resurfacing, Hwy 12 reconstruction in Wayzata/Minnetonka, a four‑year interchange build on Hwy 65 in Blaine, replacement of the I‑35E bridge over Shepard Rd. in St. Paul, and ongoing Hwy 97 work in Forest Lake and Hwy 169/282 in Jordan.
2026 is slated as the final year for significant multiyear projects on I‑94 in St. Paul (including the John Ireland Blvd. bridge), I‑35W in Burnsville, and I‑394/I‑94 in Minneapolis.