photo by: City of Lawrence

A map that indicates the Bob Billings Parkway expansion project in Lawrence. The first construction for phase one is expected to start in 2026, according to city staff.

The City of Lawrence will soon host its first open house for the Bob Billings Parkway extension project.

The two-phase project aims to upgrade the current partially unpaved rural two-lane road to an arterial roadway from Kansas Highway 10 to East 800 Road. The first phase will work on K-10 to the halfway line, and construction for that is anticipated in 2026. The second phase to fully complete the paved road does not yet have a construction date.

The open house will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive. Residents will be able to meet the project team, learn about the project’s goals and see how the plans will enhance multimodal design and stormwater systems.

Residents will be able to share their initial concerns and input to help shape the project. Residents will also have the chance to view conceptual layouts and learn about the next steps, including future surveys and meetings with property owners.

The land west of the South Lawrence Trafficway, especially near the Bob Billings interchange, has been highlighted as a likely location for the city to expand into in the next several years. Planners have said the land could provide space for more than a thousand new homes over the next decade or more. However, the area currently doesn’t many of the roads and city utilities needed for such development.

To learn more about the project and the open house, visit lawrenceks.org/bob-billings.