New traffic patterns within the Uptown Arts District will take effect the week of June 13, 2016. Pine Street and Washington Street will convert from one-way traffic to two-way traffic between 11th Street and 2nd Street. Likewise, 9th Street will convert to two-way traffic from Wabash Street to Pine Street. Lastly, Franklin Street between 2nd Street and Washington Park Bridge will be reconfigured for two-way traffic.
The week after Memorial Day Weekend through the conversion the week of June 13th, you will see efforts being made to get ready for the new traffic pattern. The week after Memorial Day there will be intermittent lane restrictions as the striping contractor lays out the new striping on 9th Street from Wabash to Pine Street; on Washington and Pine Streets from 11th Street to Franklin Street (north of City Hall). The week of June 6th, traffic will be restricted to one lane on Pine and Washington Streets, with no street parking available. This is due to the large amount of striping that is required for the new traffic pattern. Please be patient and bear with us as we wrap this project up.
The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission set out to improve the safety and lane-configurations within the Uptown Arts District as part of the ongoing revitalization efforts in Michigan City. The two-way street conversion will improve the flow of traffic and improve connectivity throughout the area.
“The new configurations will provide people will multiple options to get between the area’s train stations, parks, restaurants and businesses, which will increase the flow of traffic,” said Brad Minnick, Senior Project Engineer for the project’s design firm, Primera Engineers. “More importantly, the reconfigured lanes are narrower than the previous lanes which is designed to reduce speeds and help improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.”
The street conversion project also includes improved streetscaping with new pedestrian and high-mast lighting, traffic signage and signals. New LED flashing stop signs will help alert residents and out-of-town visitors of the new configurations throughout the transition period. Planning for the project began in early 2015 and it is anticipated that the project will be complete by mid-summer.