LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – City leaders hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Friday morning on Broadway, marking the official start of a reconstruction project that will reshape one of downtown Lubbock’s most recognizable streets.
Construction has already begun to replace historic brick pavement with concrete and new brick pavers at intersections between Avenues Q and E. The project will also add bike lanes, new sidewalk, benches, trees, lighting, and traffic signals, along with underground upgrades to pipes and drainage.
Mayor Mark McBrayer acknowledged the street’s history while pointing toward its future.
“Broadway will always kind of be like a front door to the City of Lubbock and to this place we call home,” McBrayer said. “But we’re here today to look to the future…we want people to come downtown, park their cars, walk around support our local businesses here, enjoy everything this area has to offer.”
‘Much more than a road project’
Dan Williams, chair of the Central Business District TIF, said the scope of the work extends beyond infrastructure.
“This is a road project, but it is much more than that,” Williams said. “It’s about creating a place that’s safer to walk, safer to drive, easier to explore, more inviting to invest in and more connected to the rest of downtown.”
District One Councilwoman Christy Martinez-Garcia says the project will create a smooth, welcoming path for downtown, while paying tribute to the rich history of the road.
“Whether you are a fan of the bricks or not, I think we all can agree that this important corridor was ready for some much-needed love, right?” she said. “It will create a beautiful gateway into the heart of our city and help connect our community to all that downtown Lubbock has to offer.”
Years in the making
Heather Keister chaired the Citizens Advisory Committee in 2024, when the project was approved through a street bond.
“We know everyone has an opinion about what Broadway should look like and I felt like we all were able to work together to define something that then could be supported by the citizens of Lubbock,” Keister said.
Former Councilman Randy Christian said the effort spans nearly two decades.
“It didn’t just start with my council tenure, it goes back many, many,” Christian said. “And I’m just so glad that everybody understood why this vision and the completion of this vision was so important to the future, ‘cause no council that I can think of really backed off of it.”
Business owners brace for disruption
For business owners along Broadway, the two-year construction timeline presents challenges. Marsha Johnson, owner of Sweet Creations, called the timeline “a little scary” but encouraged residents to continue supporting local businesses during construction.
“Just come down, of course they’re gonna have the streets kind of blocked off, but there is parking in the back,” Johnson said. “There’s ways to get to us and we’re just going to need the community. I always say there’s no us without u, and so we’re going to be dependent on you.”
Christian said the Broadway project is one of several developments — including Pickering Park and the Broadway Market — that he believes will significantly change the area.
“I do not think that people understand how transformational this will be,” Christian said.
The project is expected to take approximately two years to complete.
According to the City of Lubbock, the historic bricks will be stored at a stockpile for the streets department at the Canyon Landfill site.
Copyright 2026 KCBD. All rights reserved.