Phase 2 Of Yale Widening Project Begins Between 81st, 91st

Starting Monday, Yale Avenue between 81st and 91st will be shut down for the next four months due to construction. Project leaders say in order to safely begin phase two of the widening project, they have to completely shut the mile down through July, to give everyone room to work.

The Yale widening project is taking the section between 81st and 91st from two lanes to six lanes, adding in sidewalks, left turn medians, and a storm sewer system. Leaders say this project has been decades in the making and is very much needed.

The project began in November 2021 and Monday is the official start of phase two. The phase will last through about July 26. Project Manager Elliot Stiles said the project is about 15% complete, which is right on target for where they should be at this point.

The mile-long stretch will be shut down to through traffic, but a small number of people who live and work in this area will still have access.

Stiles said most of the work since last fall has been underground prep work, but now it’s time to start working above ground.

“The full closure of Yale Avenue is to give us ample working room for some of the parts of the project that will take up a lot of space,” Stiles said. “As we go vertical with these walls we need to be in here with heavy machinery and heavy cranes they will be swinging around and taking up a lot of space.”

The entire project is expected to be complete by fall 2023.