The City of Lawrence’s maintenance work on Iowa Street is complete ahead of schedule, while other projects on Bob Billings Parkway and on 27th Street are delayed.
Read about those and other city traffic updates below.
Iowa Street maintenance runs ahead of schedule
The city announced in June that it would take a half mile of Iowa Street down to one lane in each direction for maintenance starting July 6.
The project, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Transportation, was meant to improve surface preservation of the strip, “including asphalt mill and overlay work, new pavement markings, curb and gutter replacement, and ADA sidewalk accessibility improvements,” according to a city news release.
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The city originally anticipated the work would wrap by September, but it announced Friday that the project is ahead of schedule. Starting the week of Monday, Aug. 10, contractors will remove traffic control on Iowa Street between Sixth Street and Harvard Road.
They’ll move the traffic control to the intersection of Ninth and Iowa streets for continued maintenance work along Ninth Street, which should be done by Friday, Sept. 4 pending weather or other delays, according to the release.
Bob Billings Parkway project
Crews started prepping for a Bob Billings Parkway improvement project in November and began reducing traffic to one lane in each direction in December.
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The city noted Friday that community members have asked why there’s been less construction activity but lanes are still reduced in that area.
According to a city release, the project team ran into a surprise issue with the planned wall near the limestone ledge west of Alvamar Drive, which needed to be handled before other parts of the project could be completed.
“During this time, the paving sub-contractor moved to other contract obligations for the season temporarily,” the release read. “Now, these crews have returned and will continue work on the eastbound lanes of Bob Billings Pkwy.”
That part of the work should be done by the end of August.
Crews will work on the eastbound lanes first and then switch traffic control to work on the westbound lanes.
The city said the westbound lane work should be completed by the end of 2026 and the thanked people for their patience. The release directs folks to this page for additional updates.
27th Street west of K-10
Contractors closed 27th Street west of K-10 to build a sanitary sewer on Monday, Aug. 3. That work was supposed to be finished the same week, but the city said it will be extended into the week of Monday, Aug. 17.
The construction will continue impacting folks’ access to the Youth Sports Complex and the Rotary Arboretum during business hours.
“Crews will reopen 27th Street by 5:00 p.m. at the end of every day to allow access for evening activities at the Youth Sports Complex,” according to the release. “Additionally, the road will remain open when crews are not actively working in the area.”
The segment of the Lawrence Loop that overlaps with the construction is also closed throughout the work. According to the release, there will be detour signage to help loop users navigate around the construction.
Learnard Avenue between 19th and 23rd streets
Contractors will close Learnard Avenue to through traffic between 19th and 23rd streets starting the week of Monday, Aug. 10 for waterline replacement. Local traffic and residents will still have access to the area from both the north and south throughout this project.
The city said the closure should end in March 2027.
Westbound 11th Street between Vermont and Kentucky streets
Contractors will close the westbound land of 11th Street between Vermont and Kentucky streets on Monday, Aug. 10. They’ll work on paving and street maintenance and should be done the same day.
There will be a detour sign directing traffic north on Vermont Street, west on 10th Street and south on Tennessee Street.
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