Major construction work that could tie up portions of Route 1 in College Park for the next three years has begun.

The $29 million project will add bike lanes, expand sidewalks, add a green median and improve traffic flow in the one-and-a-half-mile stretch from College Avenue near the Bagel Place north to University Boulevard by the bowling alley.

With college classes being held online and summer vacation starting soon, the work should cause less disruption in the coming months. In fact, contractors were able to get pre-construction work done faster because of reduced traffic due to the coronavirus.

For the next few years, though, you may find it faster to take East-West Highway to Kenilworth Drive to head north, then cross back over on University Boulevard. The state Department of Transportation said to expect one or two lanes to be closed every day.

The roadwork is the latest improvement to an area of Route 1 that is undergoing a renaissance. Apart from the hotel, the university has built the Iribe Center, and a WeWork office, a tech incubator and a future Purple Line stop are nearby.

High-end student housing at The Varsity, University View and the Enclave at 8700; The Alloy apartments; the Cambria Hotel; and Lidl have transformed the area, while Vigilante Coffee, Taqueria Habanero, College Park Grill, The Hall and other dining options have made it more of a place to visit.