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.

Contact: City Communications, citycommunications@lawrenceks.gov

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