LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On the first business day after crews finished the two-way conversion of East Jefferson Street through NuLu, drivers were both excited about the easier access and future business boost, but others were concerned about future potential crashes.
The eight-month project to convert East Jefferson Street from a one-way to a two-way finished on Sunday. Monday afternoon, drivers were hesitant of the change with only a few traveling the former 'wrong direction'.
Some told WHAS11 News they see cars traveling the former 'wrong way' and they are immediately worried, thinking the car is traveling down the road incorrectly.
Office administrator at Spindletop Draperies, Brenda Stivers, said she's excited about the change and the time it will save her traveling to work.
"And now I can just come down Floyd, Jackson, any number of streets and turn right on Jefferson," said Stivers. "So, it'll cut some time off, and I like cutting time off."
Stivers believed the change in direction will add to the business.
"There's people that said they didn't know [Spindletop Draperies] was here until they drove by, so I think it's very positive for our company," Stivers said.
Her co-worker, Vicki Smith, sees the change as scary. She questioned how all drivers will know about the change.
"Like navigation picking up on it: do people use their navigation all of the time?" said Smith. "Do they watch the news? And if they don't live in this area, they might not know about it."
Before the lane conversion, Smith has seen several crashes, some that even ended up in the parking lot of Spindletop Draperies. Across the street from the business, cars were parked facing the wrong direction.
"Old habits die hard," said Smith. "You get used to your certain routine."
WHAS11 News reached out to Metro Public Works to see if this directional change has been made on navigational apps but have not heard back.
Another project called "Main Remade" aims to make Main Street in Louisville a two-way street as well. The first phase of the project, called the West Phase, is expected to begin sometime in Fall 2024 according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or X feed.