Location: NE 1st Street, SE 1st Street
Architect/Engineer: Lawson, Noble and Webb
Contact: Randal Krejcarek, City Engineer at 243-7320

Project Description: The current downtown bypass system consists of two one-way streets: NE 1st Street (westbound) and SE 1st Street (eastbound). The bypass was originally designed to provide an alternative to traveling on the more congested East Atlantic Avenue. These one-way pairs create difficulties for drivers trying to circulate throughout the downtown area. The Downtown Master Plan calls for the conversion of these streets back to their original two-way configuration, but they will continue to serve as alternative routes to Atlantic Avenue.

The project necessitates changes to traffic signals and markings, upgrading of the railroad crossings, and installation of landscaping and on-street parking. Construction began in late 2005 and was completed in 2007. Traffic signals and railroad crossings must be updated before the conversion can be completed. The conversion of NE 1st Street (between Swinton and NE 6th Avenue) to two-way traffic was completed in August 2010. A start date for the conversion of SE 1st Street has not yet been set. The CRA has contributed more than $952,000 toward the project.