photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

The intersection of 23rd Street and Iowa Street is fully open Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2025, after construction work that took most of the year.

After extensive reconstruction work, Iowa Street is ready to reopen, ahead of schedule.

The city said in a press release Friday that the project would be “fully opened” this week, and crews are placing the final lane striping and installing permanent speed limit signs starting Wednesday.

In November 2024, the City Commission approved a construction contract of just over $9.2 million with Kings Construction Co. Inc. for the project, with the agreement totaling $10 million with contingency funds, according to a city memo. Michael Leos, a spokesperson for Lawrence’s Municipal Services and Operations department, said as of Nov. 30, the total amount expensed for the project was just over $8.9 million.

The project along Iowa Street rebuilt the roadway from 23rd Street to Irving Hill Road, replaced water lines and installed improved storm water structure and added a shared use path and sidewalks along stretches of the road. The work was expected to start in January of this year, as the Journal-World reported, but was started in February after frigid weather caused delays.

Despite the delays, the project is finishing two months ahead of schedule, according to the press release.

Throughout the construction, the north-south corridor saw multiple different traffic patterns and lane closures to navigate the reconstruction. In the release, the city noted the project “brought detours, delays, and construction fatigue over the past year.”

Aaron Parker, a project manager, said city staff have “a deep appreciation for all who use the corridor” and the adjacent businesses that have been “outstanding partners during the construction.” He said he is excited for the reopening of the street and noted “the road improvements will serve the City for years to come.”