A long-closed portion of 19th Street is open to motorists today.

Chuck Soules, director of public works for the city, said crews completed the final pieces of road work at the intersection of 19th and Louisiana streets, which has been closed since May.

Monday was the deadline that the contractor, Lawrence-based LRM Industries, faced to complete the project or pay a fine for being late.

Soules said construction crews worked most Saturdays and some Sundays to ensure the road would open by the time classes started at adjacent Lawrence High School.

The $1.1 million project added a center turn lane on 19th west of Louisiana, which will allow vehicles to turn into the LHS parking lot without disrupting traffic flow. The project also includes an upgraded stoplight, a bus turnout lane on Louisiana and sidewalks on both sides of 19th.

A separate project, however, may disrupt traffic heading into LHS. Soules said repaving work is expected to soon begin on about a two-block section of Louisiana immediately north of 19th Street.