Highway 280 to reopen Friday morning, in time for State Fair
Expect lane closure on southbound I-35W near 280 Thursday night for crews to move equipment
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Officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation say State Highway 280 will reopen for traffic on Friday morning, so long as the weather cooperates.
“We're ahead of schedule, and we're going to be able to open Highway 280 in both directions." said Ricardo Lopez, a spokesperson for MnDOT. “There won't be any significant work on Highway 280, any ramp closures, lane closures during the fair's run.”
Motorists also should be aware of an overnight lane closure on southbound Interstate 35W and westbound Highway 36 near Highway 280 from 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, to 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21. The closures are needed while crews remove road and ramp closure signage ahead of reopening Highway 280.
MnDOT decided to fully close the highway during construction, allowing crews space to complete the reconstruction quickly and safely.
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The highway carries between 50,000 to 60,000 vehicles a day. It’s a major channel for traffic and helps connect Interstate 94 in St. Paul and Highway 36 and Interstate 35W in Roseville.
“You'll definitely have a much smoother ride on Highway 280 and a much safer highway too,” Lopez said. “We definitely are thankful for all the motorists, residents and businesses that were impacted during construction, and really appreciated their patience during this time.”
After the State Fair, MnDOT officials said any additional work needed will only impact the roadway for short-term lane and ramp closures. The highway will not see another full closure for any additional work needed.
The 280 reconstruction is part of an overall multi-year project estimated to cost $34 million. This stage of the project, Roessler said, is expected to come in within its projected $24 million budget.
In two years, MnDOT will conduct additional work along the corridor to repair bridges over the highway. The left-turn lane from northbound Highway 280 to Broadway Street is also slated to be permanently closed in 2028 in an effort to prevent serious crashes.
Drivers can find more details about the construction project at the MnDOT website. The latest traffic details can be found at 511mn.org.
