Construction on Lawrence Avenue Underway with November Deadline in Sight

A project that officials say will transform Lawrence Avenue is underway after months of delay. 

Construction on the Lawrence Avenue Streetscape was originally slated to start in the spring, but a lengthy city contracting process pushed the project to the summer.

Survey work started July 8 with orange barrels and signs appearing on Friday.

The streetscape is a beautification project that will run on the street from Western to Clark. Construction is expected to last into 2014 with phases from Western to Damen, and then Damen to Clark. Officials estimate the first phase will be complete by November. 

Now, Lawrence Avenue is a four-lane road in each direction, with two bike and two car lanes. With the streetscape plan, Lawrence will undergo a “road diet,” trimming total car lanes from four to three. Vehicles will have one in each direction with a continuous left-hand turn lane. 

And while Lawrence is going on a diet, the sidewalks are getting fatter, about 3 feet larger to accommodate more sidewalk cafes.

The extra space will make room for two, 5-foot bike lanes on each side of the road. When finished, Lawrence will be the longest east-west bike route in the city, CDOT officials said. 

More than 200 trees, pedestrian refugee islands and an improved rainwater system also accompany the project.

Spearheading the streetscape is Ward 47 Ald. Ameya Pawar. Since elected in 2011, he’s worked to transform Lawrence Avenue into a connection between Lincoln Square and Andersonville.

With construction finally underway, the alderman had one thing to say: “It’s amazing, it’s exciting and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

The change has already attracted some businesses to the Lawrence Avenue area.

After streetscape plans were finalized, Roots Handmade Pizza and a new culinary brewhouse announced plans to come to the neighborhood.

“It’s a lot of construction and a short term pain, but in the long term, it’s going to be amazing for our community,” Pawar said.

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To minimize disturbances to residents and businesses, project manager David Leopold said CDOT would only work on three blocks at a time, and complete one side of the street before starting on the other.

Parking on those three-block areas will be restricted, but only during the day, allowing residents to park on Lawrence on nights and weekends.

But some businesses owners say the money should be spend on creating parking, rather than discouraging drivers from using Lawrence Avenue. 

“Businesses flourish because of traffic and they’re taking that away,” Anas Ihmoud of Barba Yianni said. “Sure, we’re going to have more bicycles, but their main source of income is people driving to this destination area.” 

While the manager said the project’s decorative lighting, planters and benches will make Lawrence more attractive, the added congestion and decreased parking will actually detract from businesses.