P Street conversion to two-way coming soon
By Lindsey Wright
Staff Reporter
When returning college stu
dents turn down P Street this fall
they might be shocked to see traffic
n an oncoming lane.
For the first time in nearly 30
years, P Street will be converted
back to a two-way roadway.
The goal of turning P Street,
between 9th and 1 7th streets, into a
two-way is to strengthen the link
between downtown and the
Haymarket, said Dallas McGee,
assistant director of Lincoln Urban
Development.
In the 1980s the Hayntarket’s P
and Q streets were one-way.
However, when they were changed
to two-way streets the traffic
slowed, said McGee.
The Haymarket became pedes
trian friendly, which created a bet
ter environment for sidewalk cafes
and small cVinnc 'slnwino t m ff i r nn
P Street should help produce that
same environment, McGee said.
“The most important part of the
project is encouraging private busi
nesses to invest along the street,"
McGee said.
Some feel, though, that until
construction is completed some
businesses \vill be hurt by the
change.
“The construction is making
everything look a lot less attrac
tive," said Sandy Lemen. an
emplovee of the Coffee House,
1324 P St.
Trees have been cut down and
traffic doesn't easily flow down the
street, Lemen said. The inconve
nience may deter potential cus
tomers, especially new students,
she added.
“Right now, everyone is just
stressed." Lemen said.
Construction is expected to be
completed by the end of the year.
The two-way traffic flow' will be
augmented dv new sidewalks, trees
and new businesses such as the
Embassy Suites hotel. McGee said.
Eor the already established
businesses on P Street, the end
product may prove to be a much
needed change of atmosphere.
“Driving around downtown will
be made easier and people will
probably be more inclined to shop,”
said Stephen Wasile, an employee
at the Post and Nickel, 144 N. !4th
St. “It will be easier to park, too.”
f
DAWN DIETKK.H/D1N
SAM CLUXTON WORKS on the P Street traffic signals Wednesday morning. Cluxton works for ABC Electric, the
company in charge of changing the traffic signals from one-way to two-way on P Street.