Street goes back to brick

The 700 block of Ohio Street is getting a brand new look -- by returning to the way the street looked when it was constructed in 1903. The restoration of the original brick street is part of the K-DOT transportation enhancement program which focuses projects on historic neighborhoods, scenic byways and pedestrian walkways. This return to the past should also increase property values in the neighborhood. David Cronin, project engineer, said that many residents were looking forward to the new brick street.

"A lot of residents are excited about it and how it is going to enhance the neighborhood and restore it to its original condition," Cronin said. "A lot of homes on Ohio Street are in the historical register."

Ohio Street was originally built with two layers of brick, but was covered with asphalt in the 1960s. Cronin said that workers peeled off the asphalt layer to expose the original brick before digging up and cleaning it to determine which pieces can be reused.

"The brick was originally driven over with old wagons, cars and vehicles," Cronin said. "A lot of the surface edge you see is kind of worn. We are hoping to flip over and have a nice, smooth surface to use."

The city expects the project to cost $700,000, which is more expensive than an asphalt road. City leaders, however, expect the high price to pay off in the long run because the brick road should last up to 100 years and requires less maintenance than asphalt roads. The City of Lawrence will pay for 20% of the costs and the state will pay for the rest with federal grants.