Construction has begun to widen a stretch of Cherry Creek Drive South between East Alameda Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.

The $4.3 million project, funded through the Better Denver Bond program, will expand the existing narrow single lane of traffic in either direction, said Revekka Balancier, a spokeswoman for the Public Works Department.

The lanes will be separated by a new landscaped center median with transitions to existing lanes at Colorado Boulevard and Alameda Avenue. Enhancements will include a new sidewalk on the north and south sides connecting to existing trails and more than 150 new trees to be planted alongside the center median.

Normal construction hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Two-way traffic will generally be permitted at all times during construction. The project is expected to be complete in the summer of 2010.