State transportation officials are proposing to permanently close a left turn lane on Highway 280 in 2028.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation says it could reduce the likelihood of serious or fatal high-speed crashes on the highway and improve mobility with the closure of the left turn lane from northbound Highway 280 to westbound Broadway Street Northeast.
According to MnDOT, an analysis shows that the change would only add about 30 seconds to the average trip as most drivers will instead exit at Larpentuer Avenue and take Hennepin Avenue or Industrial Boulevard to their destination.
“In some cases, especially if drivers miss the green signal for the left turn at Broadway St., this route can be faster than to turn left at the signal on northbound Hwy 280 and better equipped to handle the current traffic capacity,” the agency’s website reads…