Drivers will now be able to more easily travel from north to south downtown after the completion of the $1.1 million conversion of Calhoun Street.
Mayor Tom Henry on Tuesday announced the opening of the two blocks of Calhoun between Berry Street and Washington Boulevard to two-way traffic for the first time in decades. It previously served only northbound drivers.
“This project is critical to improved downtown traffic circulation,” Henry said.
The city has discussed changing the street for years, especially after Harrison and Webster streets were partly closed, blocking two north-south routes.
The project sparked controversy among politicians and downtown developers because critics said it would destroy some of the best downtown ambience. In a 6-3 vote in August, the City Council approved hiring Hipskind Concrete for $1 million to change Calhoun.
Dustin Vice, owner of the Dash-In on Calhoun, said he is grateful the project is complete and said construction did not greatly hinder his business. He said the restaurant plans to expand its hours in the hopes that a livelier downtown will mean more business, especially during the Fort Wayne TinCaps season.
“We’re very excited about the summer to come,” he said.
Shan Gunawardena, city traffic engineer, said it is unusual for a street to change from two-way to one-way for two blocks as Calhoun did. He said he doesn’t think drivers will have trouble adjusting to the changes because the street now allows for two-way traffic on its entirety.
“I look at this project as eliminating a restriction,” he said.
The project included removing trees, sidewalks and planters and widening the street for turn lanes and delivery truck parking. To keep the area aesthetically pleasing, the city planted 45 new honey locust trees and installed 26 streetlights.
While the sidewalks are not wider, the city argues they have more usable space because of better positioning of the trees.
