Weekly Traffic Update: April 17, 2026

Published on April 17, 2026

9th Street closure to extend through Mississippi Street for final phase of utility work for Jayhawk Watershed project

The City of Lawrence will continue progress on the Jayhawk Watershed project along 9th Street with another traffic control change beginning Monday, April 20. City contractors will extend the current 9th St. closure through Mississippi St. for the final phase of major utility work along the corridor. During this phase, Mississippi St. will be closed to northbound and southbound traffic at 9th Street.

Since the start of the Jayhawk Watershed project, crews have installed approximately 2,000 feet of storm tunnel. With this next phase, contractors will install the final 250 feet of storm tunnel along 9th St., marking the completion of the project’s most significant utility work.

This closure is an important milestone for the project and will allow crews to finish the underground stormwater infrastructure needed to improve drainage and reduce flooding risk in the area. While this work is underway, crews will also begin restoration activities starting at 9th and Louisiana, with the goal of restoring traffic access to 9th Street in time for the beginning of the KU football season.

9th Street Parking To support access during construction, temporary public parking spaces on 9th Street remain available and free to use. Pedestrian access to businesses will continue using the crossings on the west side of Mississippi Street during this phase of work. A closure and parking map can be viewed below.

After Mississippi Street is closed to through traffic, crews will open up additional public parking areas on the west side of Mississippi Street on both the north and south sides of 9th Street. These areas will revert to no-parking areas again after Mississippi Street opens to traffic this summer.

An additional pedestrian route along the north side of 9th Street is expected to open in late April, which will provide another access option for customers and visitors.

Traffic Detour During this work, 9th Street through traffic will continue to be detoured to 6th Street. A signed detour is posted in the area.

Updates to Lawrence Transit Route 3 Due to construction, Route 3 will not be running its regular route on 9th St. A map with route changes can be viewed below.

Northbound Route 3 heading Eastbound on 9th St will take a left on Ohio St., a right on 11th St., a right on Maine St., a left on 9th St. and back on its regular route. Stops #208 (9th & Ohio), #209(9th & Mississippi), and #210 (9th and Maine) will be closed.

Southbound Route 3 heading Westbound on 9th will take a right on Maine St., left on 11th St., left on Ohio St., a right on 9th St. and back on its regular route. Stops #343 (9th & Mississippi), #329, and will be closed. A temporary stop will be installed at 9th & Maine.

The City encourages residents to continue supporting the local businesses along 9th Street, which remain open during construction.

Updated parking maps, access information, and project updates will be shared at lawrenceks.gov/mso/jayhawk-watershed.

Pictures from Construction – Old Storm Tunnel under 9th Street The picture below shows the inside of the old storm sewer tunnel that runs east and west underneath 9th Street. As part of the Jayhawk Watershed project, City contractors are installing a new storm sewer tunnel underneath 9th Street so that the City can safely abandon this failing storm tunnel.

9th Street - Closures & Parking Map

Updated Route 3 Map

19th Street to close to through traffic between Haskell Ave. and Harper Street

Originally announced in the Weekly Traffic Update for April 10, City contractors intended to close only eastbound 19th Street between Haskell Ave. and Harper Street for work associated with the Maple Lane improvements project on Monday, April 20.

In an effort to reduce the duration of this project and closure, crews will fully close 19th Street to through traffic between Haskell Ave. and Harper Street beginning Monday, April 20. Local traffic will be flagged through the work zone.

The City anticipates this work to end in mid-May, pending weather or other delays.

Our team is working hard to complete this project as soon as possible. We appreciate our community's patience as we work to finish these much needed improvements.

Tomahawk Dr. to close April 23

Beginning Thursday, April 23, City contractors will close Tomahawk Dr. from Rock Fence Pl. to Lawrence Ave. for street maintenance work. Access will be maintained to residents during this work and the closure will remain for approximately four weeks.

The City anticipates this work to be completed late May, pending weather or other delays.

W 8th Street to close from Tennessee Street to Kentucky Street

Beginning Wednesday, April 22, crews from AT&T will close W 8th Street between Tennessee Street and Kentucky Street to perform maintenance work and set a new manhole. A signed detour will be posted in the area.

The City anticipates this closure to be completed by the beginning of May, pending weather or other delays.

U.S. 59 to be reduced for K-10/SLT project work

The Kansas Department of Transportation will reduce an area of U.S. 59/Iowa Street in Lawrence next week, as part of the K-10/South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT) project.

Beginning Monday, April 20, U.S. 59 will be reduced to one lane in each direction between the westbound K-10 ramps and N. 1200 Road. The reduction is expected to be in place until early September.

During this time, southbound U.S. 59 traffic will not be able to turn left onto the eastbound K-10 on-ramp. To access eastbound K-10, southbound motorists can follow the marked detour on W. 31st Street and Haskell Avenue or use alternate routes that are not marked.

All project work and traffic changes are conditions permitting and subject to change.

More information about the SLT project is available at ksdot.gov/SLT.

To learn more about construction projects around the city and view the interactive map, visit: lawrenceks.gov/construction.

Contact: City Communications, citycommunications@lawrenceks.gov