Construction Continues Along Iowa Street

Clarissa Rodriguez | @clarissa.rodriguez_

Construction is still underway along Iowa Street as crews work on a full reconstruction project expected to continue through next year. 

According to city officials, the project involves much more than just resurfacing. The entire roadway is being rebuilt from the ground up. Senior Project Engineer Aaron Parker explained the scope of the work. 

“The road is being fully reconstructed, including the base and sub-base of the road and the curb and gutter. The road was asphalt, and it’s being replaced as concrete with under-drain and edge drain for better long-term performance,” Parker said. 

Will Soo, owner of Lucky Seb Dumpling Bar and Grill, discussed the impact of the Iowa Street construction project on his business. 

“Our lunch has been down probably about 25 to 30%, and I really believe that during those lunch hours when people are on a tight schedule, they are avoiding 23rd and Iowa Street,” Soo said. “We’ve lost money. We’ve lost business. I wouldn’t say necessarily we’ve lost profits, but we’ve definitely lost business. 

The city began the project earlier this year, and it’s expected to take about a year to complete. During that time, drivers should expect lane closures and slower traffic along Iowa Street. 

Once finished, the new concrete roadway is expected to last longer and require less maintenance than before. 

The reconstruction project is set to be completed by February of next year. Meanwhile, the city is also overseeing two other major infrastructure projects in Lawrence; the Bob Billings Parkway and the South Lawrence Traffic way improvements.