LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville's 9th Street is more than just a street; it runs from the river, to the south, through downtown.
"I think the two way street conversion will be a good thing ultimately because I think it will slow people down," said Gabe Jones Jr., who lives in the Russell neighborhood.
If anyone has ever tried to walk or drive across 9th Street, it can be challenging.
Louisville Metro Government's $25 million dollar Reimagine 9th Street project will soon connect Louisville's West End to downtown through art, retail, recreation green space and two-way conversions, but they're hearing from the community first.
"My grandmother lived in this neighborhood when she was young, and projects like this one are an opportunity to show how beautiful the West End actually is," Jones Jr. said.
Decades ago, urban renewal destroyed commercial property in west Louisville, leaving many in the West End feeling divided. To this day, it's still called the '9th Street divide.'
"If we're going to be the compassionate city that we talk about, this is our first step of healing some of those past transgressions," Metro Councilmember Phillip Baker, of District 6, said.
For years, a physical barrier on Main Street has isolated those living in the West End, but in the next few years, bike, pedestrian and bus lanes will soon connect all the way to Broadway.
Kevin Fields, president and CEO of Louisville Central Community Center said, "if you stand at the corner of 9th and Ali, you see a lot of vehicles either turn left or turn right versus continue to go west."
Fields is excited about the opportunity as Muhammad Ali and Chestnut will be converted to two way streets.
The purpose of the project is to create a safe and accessible experience for all users.
"So as soon as you come off the 64 ramp we will be slowing down the traffic to actually build a neighborhood street and that's going to feel a lot different than what is there today," said Ameerah Palacious, communications lead of the project at HDR Engineering.
It plans to make the neighborhood more friendly by reducing vehicle lanes from six to four to help business along the corridor.
"We can't force the process we got to make sure that everyone has the correct buy-in," Michael King, the director at the Louisville Office of Planning, said.
Conversions of the streets will begin as early as 2025.
There will be a concept design public meeting for the project in June.
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