Last week, crews began phase one of the Lawrence and Tyler streets improvements, which aims to increase pedestrian safety and access to Uptown. 

The project, in process now through mid-December, includes sidewalk demolition and replacement, as well as the construction of new ramps and intersection concrete bulb-outs that are ADA-compliant, according to the city website.

The project will also include a new bus stop, rain gardens, pavement re-striping for bike lanes, tree removal and tree planting. The grant-funded transportation improvements are the first step toward the eventual repaving of Lawrence Street from Monroe Street to the public library.

Crews removed three overgrown, sidewalk-buckling, sewer-damaging European Hornbeam trees on the east side of Lawrence Street to make way for the new, accessible sidewalks. Six more trees will be removed on Tyler Street between Lawrence and Jefferson streets before the sidewalk is replaced.

Still, the city assured residents in its Lawrence Street Planting Plan that each tree would be replaced with a sidewalk-compatible species. 

The improvements were prompted by requests from the community Jefferson County Farmers Markets and “Disability Awareness Starts Here!”

“The trees that were planted years ago were root invasive, and the ones that will replace them are not, so that will be great,” said Aldrich’s manager, Tom Headley. “This project has been needed for a very long time. It’ll have an impact, definitely, and we are grateful it’s going to get done, it’s going to be great.”

Vhaleh Almaee, the manager at The Nest, another Lawrence Street business, feels the city should have communicated its plans better.

“It just feels disrespectful and inconsiderate not to be more thoughtful about the impact on businesses. I trust what they are doing, and I appreciate the investment, but the biggest upset is that there was a major oversight on the city’s part to communicate what is going on,” she said. “Especially where we are at The Nest, there is construction on all sides, which is completely, 100% affecting business.”

Work between Harrison and Tyler streets will focus on installing sidewalk extensions — called bulb-outs — at each street corner. The extensions will increase pedestrian safety and slow traffic flow, according to the city. 

Laura Parsons, the lead engineer on the project, said while the project may cause some headaches, it will be worth it in the end.

“If you make a setting more inviting for pedestrians and bicyclists, they are more likely to go into the surrounding businesses,” Parsons said. “Wide sidewalks make it feel safe to walk, and it’s been shown to increase business when you have a more welcoming environment.”

Phase Two of the project will begin next spring when crews repave Tyler Street between Lawrence and Jefferson streets and implement back-in, angled parking.

The city expects Lawrence Street and the adjacent businesses to remain open for the entirety of the project. There will be sidewalk closures along the side of the street where crews work, but the opposite side will remain open. Crews will work between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.