The Kansas Turnpike Bridge will undergo construction starting in June, one of many major renovations that will begin this year in and around Lawrence.

Just as quickly as the grills and swimsuits are brought out for summer, so, too, are the orange cones.

Road construction sprouts up throughout the city consistently between May and August, and this summer will be no exception.

The Lawrence Public Works and Utilities departments have long lists of regular maintenance and repairs. However, one of the biggest headaches, repairing a bump at the North Second and Locust streets intersection, has been postponed a year.

Then there is the other big headache – the first phase of replacing the Kansas Turnpike bridge over the Kansas River.

Lisa Callahan, director of public relations with the Kansas Turnpike Authority, said construction will begin on the west side of Lawrence in June.

In March, a construction bid was still being sought, so a start date for the project was unknown.

Callahan said when construction does begin, it will restrict westbound access to and from the West Lawrence interchange for approximately eight months.

“There should be no delays or any problems on the turnpike,” Callahan said.

The Kansas Turnpike Authority published two maps that show detailed construction information, at www.spanningthefuture. com. Callahan said the maps and other information will be updated as the construction continues for the next several years.

In the city, about $4.2 million has been budgeted for 2008 construction projects that will begin in May.

Major projects include construction at the intersection of 19th and Louisiana streets. Dena Mezger, assistant public works director of infrastructure and maintenance, said parts of 19th Street from Tennessee to Alabama streets will be closed right after the public schools break for summer until the first week of August.

“Nineteenth is basically falling apart,” she said. “They are trying to widen it to add more turn length capacity by the high school. Basically they are redoing and widening it out to almost three lanes through that entire section.”

Another project will be on Iowa Street from 23rd to 31st for resurfacing. Mezger expected it to be a four- to six-week process. She said Iowa Street will be narrowed and certain lanes would be closed.

“Summer is when we end up doing a lot of things just because we try to avoid as much traffic as we can from school and KU,” Mezger said. “We try to squeeze it, it can make it difficult, but we do try.”

Some of that work is done at night when traffic is even slower.

Mezger urged drivers to exercise caution around construction sites.

“Slow down,” she said. “Obviously the accident down on 59 Highway last fall was a big reminder. When you’re not paying attention and driving fast right next to them it gets pretty scary for them. They are very vulnerable.”

Two highway workers were killed Sept. 11, 2007, south of Lawrence when a pickup truck barreled through a restricted one-lane construction zone.

The utilities department has several projects lined up, but none that should hinder traffic, except for sewer line projects at various spots throughout the city, said Jeanette Klamm, utilities programs manager.

It will be “business as usual” this summer, she said.