2028 proposed design
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Broadway St. left turn closure and improvements to Hennepin Ave. and Industrial Blvd.
MnDOT and motorists have identified a clear safety concern at the Hwy 280 and Broadway St. Northeast intersection. To address this issue, we propose a full closure of the left turn lane from northbound Hwy 280 to westbound Broadway St. in 2028.
While the closure removes the traffic signal at the intersection, right turns to/from southbound Hwy 280 at the intersection will remain open. Drivers traveling east on Broadway St. and turning south onto Hwy 280 will continue to use the dedicated acceleration lane to merge. Removing the left turn and the signal will not affect this acceleration lane. The 850-foot-long lane was designed to give drivers the space to accelerate, match 65 mph traffic and merge safely.
History and engagement
Since 2020 MnDOT has been working with the city of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to solve the issue. Based on feedback from community residents and area businesses, MnDOT is proposing to both close the left turn at Hwy 280 and Broadway St. and make improvements at Hennepin Ave. to better handle the added traffic, trucks, bikes and pedestrian. In 2026, and continuing into 2027, MnDOT is engaging with local neighborhood groups, businesses and agencies to continue to alert them of this upcoming closure and address concerns through several methods:
- Public meeting held on August 6, 2026
- Briefings, presentations, and/or meetings with agencies local businesses, organizations, and neighborhoods
- Outreach to neighborhoods in Northeast Minneapolis and Saint Anthony and surrounding cities
Need for this closure
Crashes at the intersection of Broadway St. and northbound Hwy 280 have exceeded 1.66 times the “critical” crash rate that signifies a statistically significant crash problem that is higher than what was expected for this intersection (2015-2019 data). This is a high-speed location with characteristics that create frequent close calls that have resulted in injury crashes and risk severe consequences when crashes do occur. Closing the left turn removes a potential high-speed conflict point and reduces the likelihood of a serious or fatal crash, moving us toward Minnesota’s Toward Zero Deaths goal.
The decision to close the left turn was made in 2020 using the most recent five years of data (2015-2019). Images of two crashes, shown below, are examples of the right angle crashes that helped inform the decision.
February 2023
August 2024
New traffic patterns
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Our traffic analysis shows that most of the traffic that uses the left turn at Broadway St. today will exit at Larpenteur Ave. and follow Hennepin Ave. and Industrial Blvd. Using these roads, will add about 30 seconds to an average travel time. In some cases, especially if drivers miss the green signal for the left turn at Broadway St. or if there is a train crossing Broadway St., this route can be faster than to turn left at the signal on northbound Hwy 280. We will be making additional improvements, including coordinated signal timing, to keep additional traffic and trucks moving safely and efficiently on Hennepin Ave. and Industrial Blvd.
Other traffic is expected to follow alternate routes via I-35W, according to the analysis. Traffic modeling shows a net decrease in overall traffic delays at intersections in the Mid-City Industrial neighborhood with the closure of the Broadway St. left turn at Hwy 280.
Overall, the analysis shows that closing the left turn at Broadway St. redistributes traffic to nearby routes designed to handle higher volumes, such as Industrial Blvd., Stinson Blvd., Larpenteur Ave. and I-35W. Residential streets will not see additional traffic, and nearby routes like Territorial Rd., Como Ave. and Kasota Ave. are expected to experience little or no change.
Existing conditions at Hwy 280 and Broadway St. looking north
Rendering of the potential design at Hwy 280 and Broadway St. looking north with a median placed at the intersection
Alternative solutions
Roundabout, J-turn or interchange
MnDOT has considered multiple alternative solutions including a roundabout, a J-turn and an interchange. The traffic volume along Hwy 280 is too high for a roundabout. J-turns and an interchange created significant property impacts to the businesses and houses in the area.
Warning lights, bollards, posts and other barriers
Advanced warning flashing lights, bollards, posts and other barriers do not prevent right-angle crashes, which have been the serious crash type at this intersection. Bollards, posts and other barriers would narrow the intersection, making it more difficult for semi trucks to travel through the intersection. Posts and barriers also make snow and ice removal harder, which is a serious concern at Hwy 280 and Broadway St. due to the banked road causing snow melt to flow across lanes, where it can refreeze and create icy conditions on the curve.
After evaluating alternatives, MnDOT determined that removing the turn provides the greatest overall safety benefit.
