Interstate 44 is complete at Lewis Avenue, and the interstate is six lanes (or more with merge lanes) between the Arkansas River and the I-244 east interchange. The final section of the project widened the interstate to six lanes between Wheeling and Columbia avenues and was the most extensive section due to a rerouting of the interstate that required major excavations at Lewis Avenue, along with many building demolitions, including an office tower. The Lewis Avenue bridge closed in September 2012 and did not reopen until early August 2014, while the interstate opened earlier in the summer of 2014. This view, looking east from Wheeling Avenue, shows the new alignment is much closer to 51st Street (right) than in the past, as the old alignment was between the westbound frontage road (location did not change) to near the edge of the north abutment wall. The new road was excavated on its new alignment, and the south half of the Lewis Avenue bridge was built, along with the eastbound lanes of I-44. In the fall of 2013, traffic was shifted to these lanes, and the old bridge was demolished, while the embankment between the old bridge and new roadway was excavated. The north half of the bridge then was built, and all lanes of the interstate opened in 2014. The westbound ramp configuration remains unchanged. However, the eastbound ramps underwent a major redesign. The exit ramp for Lewis Avenue now is near Wheeling Avenue, and a new entrance ramp was built at Atlanta Avenue, which includes a traffic signal at 51st Street and Atlanta Avenue. Fifty-First Street now is one-way eastbound between Peoria and Lewis avenues, as the street now serves as the eastbound frontage road. Previously, the street was two-way between Lewis and Utica avenues and included an entrance ramp near Wheeling Avenue, while the exit ramp was west of Utica Avenue. The Lewis Avenue bridge now features seven lanes, including three southbound lanes (one becomes a left-turn lane at 51st Street) and four northbound lanes, two of which serve as left-turn lanes to go west on I-44. A U-turn is in place on the west side of the bridge to serve eastbound traffic wanting to go west on I-44 to bypass the traffic signals. A similar "ghost lane" is on the east side of the bridge. Photo taken Aug. 20, 2014.
