photo by: Rochelle Valverde

Part of the Lawrence Loop trail near the intersection of 12th and Oregon streets is pictured on Monday, July 16, 2018.

Construction on a new portion of the Lawrence Loop, the trail system encircling the city, will begin the first week of February.

The new segment will begin in Peterson Park, located near the intersection of Peterson Road and Iowa Street, and continue east to Michigan Street, according to a city news release. The project will consist of a 10-foot-wide shared-use path with a pedestrian tunnel under McDonald Drive at the Kansas Turnpike Authority access terminal. Additionally, pedestrian-activated beacons will be installed across Iowa Street and Michigan Street to make those crossings safer.

With the completion of the project, the Lawrence Loop will include a total of 19 miles of completed pathway, and another half mile is planned for construction in 2023. The project received 80% of its funding through a Federal Transportation Alternatives grant.

Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout construction of the new segment, but lane reductions are expected at the turnpike access on McDonald Drive from March through July.