The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s 2026 road construction season includes more than 200 projects that will help improve and maintain Minnesota’s roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure; improve safety and mobility; and support jobs throughout the state, MnDOT announced today. Travelers across Minnesota should be prepared to slow down as road construction projects scale up across the state.
The 2026 construction season includes just over 200 planned projects that will improve state roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure, plus 51 projects that will improve airports, water ports, railroad crossings and transit.
“We have a robust 2026 road construction season ahead of us — when complete, these projects will help people get around more easily, improve safety, create smoother pavement, and improve connectivity for everyone who relies on our multimodal transportation system,” said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “In every work zone there are people working hard to keep you safe – help keep them safe too. Slow down when navigating work zones, put away every distraction, and work to keep everyone safe. We’re all in the work zone together.”
2026 Minnesota road construction planning and travel tools
Minnesota travelers can use several online tools to plan ahead and learn which work zones may require additional travel time or detours.
- Visit mndot.gov/construction to learn where you’ll cross paths with construction projects and navigate to project websites to find more detailed information including planned traffic changes and detour maps.
- Sign up for project email updates to receive project information including notification of when lanes or roads will close.
- Know before you go – visit 511mn.org or use the 511 app to get near-real-time travel information.
Significant projects in northwest Minnesota this year include:
- Completing a multi-year project on Highway 11 in Warroad that includes replacement of the Warroad River Bridge.
- Reconstructing Highway 11 between Roseau and Warroad.
- Reconstructing Highway 71 between Turtle River and Tenstrike.
- Beginning a multi-year project on Highway 197 in Bemidji, includes reconstructing, plus increasing safety by adding roundabouts and improving pedestrian accessibility at intersections.
Significant projects statewide this year include:
- On I-94 between Albertville and Monticello, crews will complete expanding the interstate to three lanes and making other improvements.
- Construct major interchange improvements at the west junction of I-94 and Highway 210 near Fergus Falls, includes replacing the bridge, constructing three roundabouts, new sidewalks, and reconstructing and realigning the interchange ramps.
- Reconstructing Hwy 2 between Hwy 194 and Midway Road west of Proctor.
- Completing the 11th Street underpass project in Moorhead. The three-year project includes constructing two underpasses beneath BNSF rail lines, paving, sidewalks, utility replacements and other improvements.
- Improving Hwy 10, Hwy 71 and Hwy 29 in Wadena.
- Repaving, constructing roundabouts and intersection improvements on Hwy 61/London Road in Duluth.
- Beginning a two-year project that will reconstruct Hwy 210 in Brainerd, add roundabouts, update the Mississippi River bridge and make other improvements.
- In the Twin Cities metro area, resurfacing Hwy 280 in St. Paul, Roseville and Lauderdale and repairing ramps and bridges; reconstructing Hwy 12 in Wayzata and Minnetonka; beginning a four-year project to build four interchanges along Hwy 65 in Blaine; replacing the aging I-35E bridge over Shepard Rd. in St. Paul; continuing reconstruction of Hwy 97 in Forest Lake; and ongoing construction of the Hwy 169/Hwy 282 interchange in Jordan. This is the final year for a number of significant multiyear projects, including I-94 in St. Paul (with the John Ireland Blvd. Bridge), I-35W in Burnsville and I-394/I-94 in Minneapolis.
Safety in work zones
Motorists should always be prepared to encounter traffic changes when approaching work zones, including lane closures, lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, slow-moving heavy equipment and slow or stopped traffic. To keep everyone safe, drivers must:
- Obey posted speed limits. The fine for speeding in a work zone is $300.
- Drive undistracted. Avoid using cell phones and mobile devices, adjusting the radio or eating while in work zones.
- Move over. Give workers room to safely complete their work.
- Know before you go. Get real-time information about traffic and road conditions at www.511mn.org or get the free 511mn smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
- Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
- Do the zipper merge.
- Avoid making unnecessary lane changes.
- Never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.
