Community members, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce staff members and Lawrence city commissioners gathered Monday to celebrate the end of the East 23rd Street reconstruction project finally coming into clear view on the horizon.
The roughly 18-month project has included more than 41,5000 square yards of new pavement; 3 miles of new curbs and gutters; 3 miles of new water main; 11,000 square yards of shared-use paths; 150 new trees and six new Lawrence Transit stops, according to a news release from the chamber announcing the celebration.
The project will finally be in the rearview mirror soon.
All lanes of Haskell Avenue, Harper Street and westbound 23rd Street will open to unrestricted traffic beginning Friday, Dec. 15, according to a recent traffic update from the City of Lawrence. One lane of eastbound 23rd Street will be closed to allow contractors to install permanent street lights and pavement marking on the south side of the street. That closure is expected to be removed by Tuesday, Dec. 19, according to the update.
Monday’s celebration was held at Fields & Ivy Brewery near 23rd Street and Haskell Avenue — one of many local businesses that has had to contend with the project.
“With progress sometimes comes pain, and with all the businesses in the area, and people who travel back and forth, it’s been a little painful,” said Bonnie Lowe, Chamber president and CEO. “But we have a wonderful new improvement with the streets and the water and the wastewater and the sidewalks, so I hope that’s a little bit of consolation. And the good news is it won’t be having to be done for quite some time, I understand.”
Mayor Bart Littlejohn said the road will be phenomenal once it reopens.
“This was kind of an arduous process, we all know, and thank you so much for your patience,” he said. “… I think we’re all going to reap the benefits of this, and this is going to help connect Lawrence better.”
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August Rudisell (he/him) has been a photographer and videographer for The Lawrence Times since March 2021. He is a former dispatcher, he avidly consumes and creates local news, and he would love to meet your dog when out and about at a community event.
See more of his work for the Times here.
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