Downtown Louisville streets changing to 2-ways for safety, connectivity improvements

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Plans are underway to change streets near downtown Louisville to two-way, starting with 8th Street.

It's the first of many to be turned from a one-way to a two-way. Crews have done the striping and have cones and road blockers out to keep people from driving on the road. Soon, cars will be driving both ways.

"There's already been wrecks along this street, this corner right here. They running the stop signs, but no police are ever around," said Benjamin Wilson Sr., who lives near the 8th Street and Muhammed Ali Boulevard intersection.

Those stop signs were put in last year, replacing traffic lights. The city was testing which one works better before they convert Muhammed Ali and Chestnut Street into two-way streets.

The reason for these changes is safety and connectivity.

"With the two-way configurations it slows cars down, there's that natural friction when you're going against other cars," said Louisville Metro Department of Transportation Assistant Director Michael King. "Businesses tend to flourish when you don't have to circle the block a couple of times if you miss your spot, makes it easier to get to places."

The two-way conversions are starting with a couple blocks of 8th Street. That change is to help TARC's new network that will have an on-street transfer center, which is supposed to help public transportation run faster and smoother.

"Part of what they needed to make that a reality is to do some two-way conversions to a couple of streets over there," said King.

This is going to help the city in the long run when they go forward with the Reimagine 9th Street project to convert Muhammed Ali and Chestnut Street to two-ways.

A study was done showing several streets in downtown and NuLu would benefit from being two-ways. With the help of that study and federal funding, city officials hope this is just the beginning of several conversions.

"Our hope is with that funding we're going to be able to do a few more one-way to two-way projects in the next year or so," said King.

Right now, only one lane of 8th Street is open to traffic, but in the next couple of weeks it should be fully open and cars can go both ways.

Construction on 9th Street is expected to start this fall. That will be the first phase of the Reimagine 9th Street project.