What you need to know about 41st Street construction

Road construction season is here and we’ve got the scoop on how to avoid orange cones on your way to Lake Lorraine.

Beginning Monday, March 28, the W. 41st Street westbound lanes are closed between I-29 and Gateway Boulevard to allow crews to begin work on the reconstruction of the 41st Street and I-29 interchange. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained in the eastbound lanes during this initial phase of construction. Additionally, Meadow Avenue will be closed between 39th and 41st streets, along with the outside southbound right turn lane on the off-ramp of I-29 onto 41st Street.

The overall project includes: construction of a diverging diamond interchange at I-29, which will widen 41st Street to three lanes in each direction between Marion Road and I-29, underground utility upgrades, new concrete surfacing, and a center median on 41st Street.

The initial phase of construction will be complete in approximately two weeks. Additional work and lane closures on 41st Street will immediately follow.

The Diverging Diamond Interchange project is a two-year project, which means the cones won’t be going away anytime soon. This year focuses on work to the west of the interstate to Marion Road; in 2023 it will move east to Shirley Avenue.

So — how can you get to Lake Lorraine? The easiest answer is to enter from the north to completely avoid the construction. If using I-29, take the 26th Street exit. You can turn south at the Lorraine Place stoplight to access businesses on the eastern side of the lake or continue to Marion Road to access businesses on the western side of the lake. Once you’re in the Lake Lorraine development, you can loop the lake using Lorraine Place and Westlake Drive.