LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Corey Long often takes a jog along Main Street but she says with Main Street being a one way sometimes it can be dangerous.

“I see cars turning on the streets when I’m trying to cross when they’re not looking for me. So it can be really scary sometimes,” said Long. Changes are coming to Main Street that may help with that.

What You Need To Know

  • The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting for folks to come and learn about the Main Remade project

  • The project is turning the one-way streets into a two-ways on Main Street from Baxter Avenue all the way out to 22nd Street on the west side of downtown

  • The Main Remade is made up of three stages which will include protected bike lanes, upgraded marking, lighting of crosswalks, improving visibility, increase accessibility and safety

  •  Main Street would remain open to keep traffic flowing during construction. Construction is set to start the end of this year

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting on March 19 for folks to come and learn about the Main Remade project, which is turning the one-way streets into a two-ways on Main Street from Baxter Avenue all the way out to 22nd Street on the west side of downtown.

Executive Director of Louisville Downtown Partnership Rebecca Fleischaker says the two-way conversions will help with tourism.

“We hear all the time from visitors. It’s really confusing. Our one-way pattern of street grid and making streets two way makes it a lot easier to get around. It’s much more easy to understand. And so I would love to be able to see this go two-way all the way so that you don’t have to wonder when it stops and starts from one-way to two-way, which is why I think we want to get this moving,” said Fleischaker.

The Main Remade project is made up of three stages which will includes protected bike lanes, upgraded marking, lighting of crosswalks, and improving visibility.

Traffic Safety Branch Manager of The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Michael Vaughn says the city has been looking to reconfigure several streets within the city from one-way to two-way.

“As we looked at our crash statistics and all the different possible projects, the Main Street project was one where we saw really good opportunity for safety improvement,” said Vaughn.

Main Street gets a wide variety of users and the transformation of the corridor will increase accessibility and safety.

“It’s looking at everyone who exists in a city except for just people that drive cars and is making it a more friendly place for multiple types of people and travelers to coexist,” said Long.

Long says she appreciates that the changes are more pedestrian friendly thinking of everyone’s safety, not just drivers. 

Main Street would remain open to keep traffic flowing during construction. Construction is set to start the end of this year.

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