City to begin 6-month project to reconstruct portion of East 19th Street, add other infrastructure

photo by: City of Lawrence

A City of Lawrence map shows the parameters of a project to reconstruct a portion of East 19th Street that will begin Monday.

The City of Lawrence will soon begin an approximately six-month project to reconstruct a portion of East 19th Street and add other infrastructure along the roadway.

The long-discussed project, which will begin Monday and last until August, will reconstruct East 19th Street between Harper Street and O’Connell Road. Some of that section of East 19th Street is not currently built to city standards and lacks curbs and closed drainage systems.

As the Journal-World previously reported, the Lawrence City Commission approved a narrower street design for the roadway in July 2020 following concerns from neighbors about a wider design proposed by city engineers. Specifically, commissioners approved a 27-foot-wide roadway for the reconstruction, which also includes extending the street to connect it to O’Connell Road. The extension will connect East 19th to VenturePark and East Hills Business Park. Some neighbors were also opposed to the extension, citing concerns that it would increase traffic.

The project will include improvements to pavement, storm sewers, sidewalks and a 10-foot-wide shared-use path, according to a city news release. The project will also add sidewalks and sidewalk ramps on the south side of East 19th Street between Haskell Avenue and Harper Street.

The project will include five phases and is scheduled to conclude in August. There will be various street closures during the project, and detours will be provided for local traffic. There will also be temporary traffic restrictions at various locations along the length of the project to accommodate construction equipment and ensure a safe working environment for the crews and the public.

Property owners and residents in the project area will be notified at least 48 hours in advance of any access restrictions to their property. A project map and a list of all city construction projects are available at lawrenceks.org/construction.