The year of Iowa Street is about to begin.

Major portions of Iowa Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction on Monday, the first sign of months of work that will take place on the city’s main north-south thoroughfare.

The section of Iowa Street — which is also U.S. Highway 59 — from 15th Street/Bob Billings Parkway south to the Irving Hill overpass will be reduced to one lane in each direction while crews begin a complete rebuild of the road. The city is projecting major delays for motorists in the area. The city is recommending east/west traffic use either 23rd or Sixth streets, and north/south traffic use either Kasold Drive or Kentucky Street.

Eventually, the project will expand to north of 15th Street/Bob Billings Parkway to Yale Road. Shortly after Kansas University commencement ceremonies in late May, crews will close Bob Billings/15th Street where it intersects with Iowa until mid-August. That closure will allow for installation of turn lanes.

All told, the entire Iowa Street rebuilding is expected to last until late November.

This project is just one of three planned for Iowa Street this summer. Crews also will repave the section of Iowa Street from 29th Street to the southern city limits. Another project will add a turn lane at Sixth and Iowa streets.