Concerns about providing emergency-response services in North Lawrence are delaying the start of a $2.63 million project to rebuild the intersection of North Second and Locust streets.

Lane closures and traffic detours remain at least a week away, as officials continue to refine traffic-control plans and operational details for the project. Lane closures won’t be expected to begin until the week of July 27.

Representatives from R.D. Johnson Excavating Co. Inc., the project’s general contractor, have met with city and state officials during the past three days to discuss options leading up to construction.

Nothing’s been settled, as Monday’s contractual start date for construction approaches.

“We’re ready to start, but we can’t start until the traffic control plan is approved,” said Roger Johnson, the company’s president and CEO.

Issues regarding the plan look to be settled Tuesday night, or at least steered toward a solution. That’s when Lawrence city commissioners are scheduled to review options for dispatching emergency services into North Lawrence during the main construction period — roughly Aug. 1 through Dec. 1.

Officials already know how traffic will flow: A single lane will be available for traffic heading south through the intersection, while traffic heading north will be blocked at Locust and steered instead onto a detour that involves Elm, North Third and — after crossing the Union Pacific railroad tracks — Lyon streets.

Three options remain under consideration for managing public-safety needs in North Lawrence while the detour remains in place:

• Dispatch two separate Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical crews into North Lawrence for each emergency call. One would come in across the Kansas River bridge, and another would enter North Lawrence from the Kansas Turnpike. This is the approach originally recommended by city staffers, but has been opposed by the North Lawrence Improvement Assn., whose leaders worry that trains and other traffic backups could prevent timely emergency response.

• Post a dedicated emergency crew in North Lawrence during peak travel times in the mornings and evenings, Mondays through Saturdays. The neighborhood association has advocated having a dedicated crew on duty in North Lawrence during construction. Such an approach would be expected to cost the city $26,977 to $30,241 for personnel during the four-month construction period.

• Make room at and around the construction site for dedicated lanes that could be used only by emergency vehicles, to better ensure timely response. This approach would involve signs, cones and special instruments to control traffic.

Commissioners will get an opportunity to discuss all three options during their meeting at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.

“We have several different options that we’re evaluating,” said Chuck Soules, the city’s director of public works. “We’re just trying to figure out which one is best.”

The reconstruction project will add left-turn lanes on North Second at Locust, while adding drainage inlets and pipes and installing a new underground water line. A bump in the intersection also will be removed.

Construction work requiring detours originally was set for completion in late November, by contract. While that deadline likely will be moved back into early December — to account for the latest delays brought on by traffic planning — officials remain confident that traffic should be flowing north on North Second again by the end of November.

“It’s typical construction,” Soules said. “You get all geared up, and there’s always last-minute things that need to get coordinated.”

The entire project is scheduled for completion in April.