The Minnesota Department of Transportation is sharing details about a planned permanent left-turn closure on Highway 280.
Crews will permanently close the northbound left turn onto Broadway Street in northeast Minneapolis by late 2028, according to Project Manager Chris Bauer.
"We've seen some really scary crashes at that intersection," Bauer explains. "If you can imagine a car turning left and then being involved with a crash with a car going the other way on 280 at highway speeds, those are really serious crashes. We are very fortunate that we haven't seen a fatal or serious crash in recent history, but the goal here is to get ahead of this."
MnDOT data says that crashes at that particular intersection at Broadway and 280 exceeded 1.66 times the “critical” crash rate that signifies a "statistically significant crash problem," according to data from 2015 to 2019.
He says prior to the traffic shift, crews will upgrade nearby infrastructure on Hennepin and Larpenteur avenues to accommodate rerouted freight and improve pedestrian safety.
"The goal is to beef up Hennepin Avenue, add improved bike facilities, improved pedestrian facilities, add some lighting, and basically get that road ready to handle the extra traffic from the Broadway closure in a way that's safe for people walking, and biking, and freight," Bauer adds. "That work will happen in early 2028 before we close that northbound left turn."
MnDOT says they closing of the intersection adds very little time, if any, to those who use that left turn at Broadway. They say that drivers can exit at Larpenteur Ave. and follow Hennepin Ave. and Industrial Blvd. Using these roads, which are truck-designated and non-residential routes, adds just 30 seconds to a typical trip, and in some cases, it can be faster depending on how drivers hit the stoplights.
"We will be making additional improvements to keep additional traffic moving safely and efficiently on Hennepin Ave. and Industrial Blvd," MnDOT added.
The work on Hennepin Ave. and Industrial Blvd. will include:
- Rebuilding Hennepin Ave. from just west of Industrial Blvd. to 33rd Ave., including intersections
- Wider turn lane from Hennepin Ave. to Industrial Blvd. to accommodate truck traffic
- Reduce eastbound Hennepin Ave. to one lane to accommodate bike and pedestrian path on both sides of Hennepin Ave.
- Keep two lanes of traffic westbound on Hennepin Ave. to accommodate forecasted traffic
- Widened path across the railroad crossing for safer bicycle crossing
- Construct a portion of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) Grand Rounds Missing Link through the intersection of Hennepin Ave. and Industrial Blvd.
- Replace aged traffic signal at Hennepin Ave. and Industrial Blvd.
- Add lighting along Hennepin Ave.
