Lawrence motorists have begun to see the payoff from a construction-packed summer.

Sixth Street has never looked better, and a number of other major projects are at or near completion. Students moving back to Kansas University still had to contend with some annoying street construction a couple of weeks ago, but many projects have been completed in time to accommodate visitors coming to Lawrence for KU’s first home football game this Saturday.

Even though local residents have put a high priority in recent years on upgrading Lawrence streets, the summer construction season always is trying for drivers. For the most part, contractors this year have done their best to minimize the inconvenience by keeping traffic moving as well as possible on major thoroughfares and sometimes starting their work day shortly after midnight to beat the heat and get more of their work done while there was little traffic on the streets.

Some big projects still are under way, including the one on Kasold Drive and 31st Street south of Clinton Parkway, which is scheduled to be completed in November. Weather hasn’t been a major impediment during the summer construction season, and it is hoped Mother Nature will allow that project to be finished without winter weather delays. Street construction creates some frustration for motorists, but seeing the results of this summer’s work makes the inconvenience a little easier to bear.