MN 280 is an important connector route because the junction of I-94/US 12/US 52 and I-35W in nearby downtown Minneapolis is not a complete interchange.

MN 280 serves as a north–south route along the western edge of Ramsey County, between the city of Saint Paul and suburban Roseville.

MN 280 is largely built on a slope, providing an excellent view of downtown Minneapolis to the west, particularly for southbound vehicles.

This section of the route has auxiliary lanes between University Avenue and the Kasota Avenue/Energy Park Drive exit.

The Larpenteur Avenue/East Hennepin Avenue interchange in Lauderdale was reconstructed in 2009 to eliminate the tight, no-acceleration-lane ramps.

Because of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge Collapse in nearby Minneapolis on August 1, 2007, MN 280 was designated by MnDOT as the official detour route for I-35W, resulting in its temporary conversion into a full freeway by closing the intersections at County Road B, Broadway Street, Walnut Street, and Roselawn Avenue.