It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane, it’s… Construction Season!

By Eleanor Anderson

Have you noticed an increase in the number of planes flying over campus in the last few weeks? Given campus’ proximity to the airport, we’re no strangers to the rumbling of planes overhead, but over the last few weeks, the sounds of planes have become louder and more frequent. This is because of runway construction occuring at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport. While construction crews work to repair the airport, some flights are being redirected to other landing areas that involve flying over campus.

Seasons in Minnesota are anecdotally known as Fall, Winter, Spring, and Construction, and 2025 is no exception. There are several upcoming road work projects in the Twin Cities that could impact commutes to jobs, late-night-drives and even access to campus this summer. 

One of the largest projects is the rebuilding of I-95. For people looking to get in and out of Minneapolis, plan ahead for longer commutes while the highway is reduced to one lane. If you’re planning to live on campus over the summer, there are several alternative routes you can take while driving to Minneapolis that do not involve I-95, and public transportation passes are available at reduced rates for students interested in avoiding the drive altogether. 

There are many roads close to campus that will also be closed for varying portions of the summer. Grand Avenue, Fairview and Summit will all see major renovations in the next several months, while some streets like Edgcumbe, Lexington, Como, Rondo, Pleasant, St Anthony and University will see minor projects sprinkled throughout the summer. Even if you’re only taking short trips, it may be worthwhile to check maps for closures before hitting the road. 

While you’re navigating through the construction, remember to be mindful of people working to rebuild the roads. Every year several construction workers are injured or killed in hit-and-run accidents because of the conditions they work in. This is one of the reasons why fines are so steep for speeding in construction zones. Make sure to stay mindful while driving in these areas! 

Construction can be an unfortunate, albeit inevitable, part of living in Minnesota. As the weather gets warmer, prepare for road closures, detour signs and longer commute times, but hopefully the fall semester will begin with smooth roads!