ASHLAND — The city is inching closer toward converting Third Street in downtown Ashland to a two-way street.
The street, which extends from Cottage Street to Cleveland Avenue, has been a one-way traveling west for years.
Shane Kremser, the city’s engineer, said there are many restaurants in the downtown area that attract people from out of town. One-way streets can be confusing for visitors, he said.
“(A two-way street) gives people more choice,” he said. “And it’s easier to navigate.”
The project will be part of the city’s street resurfacing effort, which is slated to begin in August, Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said. When the road is milled and paved, the street will be painted to allow for two-way traffic.
Kremser said the street resurfacing project will be broken into five phases from August through October.
“Third Street is in phase four or five,” he said, meaning the road will likely be converted sometime in September.
In the meantime, Kremser and other officials will finalize the transition from Third Street to Cleveland Avenue, where the two roads meet at Emmanuel Church. The engineer said there is discussion between marking the existing pavement or creating a traffic island there.
Nevertheless, Miller said “traffic pattern change” signs will be placed along the half-mile road soon.
“Those types of changes take time to adapt to,” he said.
Kremser said the road is wide enough for the change, but that large trucks will not be permitted to drive on it as a cut-through.
“Only trucks with businesses to get to (will be allowed),” he said.
Good luck to anyone wanting to turn left onto Cottage St. after the change is made. And good luck to anyone wanting to turn right who’s sitting and waiting behind that person who wants to turn left. Ashland needs to better-time the lights at Main and Claremont to prevent Cottage street traffic from blocking the entire intersection, because it’s not uncommon to sit through a cycle or two waiting for the traffic to clear that intersection so 3rd St traffic can turn left now!
Will there be no parking on the section between Cleveland Avenue and Union Street?
Has a traffic study been done or is this just one person’s idea. Making 4th street 2 way was a great idea, changing 3rd street is not. Leave well enough alone on this one.
I don’t think this is a good idea,I see accidents waiting to happen.Third Street has been one-way for so many years,that,it is going to be so confusing,to the oldsters that are so use to traffic going one way,and able to drive on either side of the street going up to cottage.I fear panic the first time a car turns off of cottage into Third street,and is coming down toward them.I know there will be signs,and sometime to get use to it,but untill that happens,I fear accidents.Why does everything have to change?