The Skelly Drive (westbound I-44 frontage road) and Lewis Avenue intersection underwent several revisions as part of the I-44 widening project at Lewis Avenue. The intersection no longer is on the edge of I-44, as I-44 was realigned to the south closer to 51st Street, so now there is some space between the frontage road and I-44. The intersection underwent major widening and traffic configuration improvements, as Lewis Avenue received four new lanes for through traffic (two each way) plus a dual left-turn lane for northbound traffic. Southbound traffic received a third lane for through traffic to connect with the left-turn lane at 51st Street. The westbound lanes were expanded to improve traffic flow through the intersection by adding a "straight" lane to the roadway, which provides four lanes on the frontage road. Previously, there were a left-only lane, a lane with a straight-left option and a right-turn lane. The "straight" lane should relieve congestion by adding a second lane for motorists wishing to pass through the intersection on the frontage road to access westbound I-44. Since the intersection was slightly lowered, a concrete wall was built on the northeast corner. Photo taken Sept. 27, 2014.
