Similar in style to the entrance at The Oval, the new gateway will enhance both the First Street entrance to UofL off Cardinal Boulevard and an entrance to neighboring DuPont Manual High School. It will include decorative walls, landscaping and a water feature. Pavers in the street will form a large cardinal logo. Bicycle lanes will be installed on each side of Cardinal.
The project is scheduled for completion by mid-August. It is being funded through a federal grant.
Construction will begin this month with the closure of a parking lane and sidewalk on the north side of Cardinal Boulevard between Brook and Second streets. Early work will focus on the lawn south of Cardinal, near the School of Music and Unitas Tower. The bus stop at the corner of First and Cardinal will be moved several hundred feet to the east.
Some road work will begin after Derby week. Any road work before the end of May will conclude before Manual classes let out each day at about 2:30 p.m.
This summer, some lane closures will be necessary. UofL Today will highlight any lane closures or changes to traffic patterns.
In addition to beautification of the area, the installation of pavers on Cardinal Boulevard will slow traffic, improving safety at the entrance, said project director Ellen Briscoe.
“Much like the work we’ve done on Eastern Parkway and The Oval, it will be more welcoming than the current entrance,” she said. “There will be some disruption to traffic flow. But we ask people to be patient with us. They will be pleased with the results.”
