You may recall reading or hearing about a critical traffic circulation change affecting portions of State and Washington Street. Earlier this spring, the City Council approved a plan for converting one-way traffic to two-way traffic on State (between 2nd St. and Waterloo Road), and also on Washington (between 1st and 6th Streets). Although approved, the roadway changes have not yet occurred. Planned railroad crossing improvements, now underway, as well as planned roadway improvements to the 400 and 500 block of Washington prompted the City to delay the two-way circulation change until after these other improvements were completed.
A number of factors contributed to the final decision to change the circulation pattern. A major circulation change occurred back in the ‘90’s when new Highway 58/218 was opened, thereby relocating through traffic away from downtown. That change in and of itself caused
downtown traffic volumes to drop. New downtown development planned on State Street, coupled with a traffic consulting study analyzing future volumes and circulation movements in the central business district, all contributed to the two-way circulation change decision.
Looking ahead, it is anticipated that downtown railroad and Washington Street repairs will be
completed in the foreseeable future. The City will, at that time, implement the two-way change.
Although scheduling is difficult to nail down with absolute certainty (weather and timing of related
improvements), it appears as though the one-way to two-way conversion will occur. City staff
is tentatively looking at October 9th as the likely date of implementation. Please keep in mind that this date is tentative. If delayed, the circulation change will be occurring shortly thereafter.