PARKERSBURG - A new traffic pattern on Juliana Street in the Julia-Ann Historic District has already caused a rise in safety concerns.
The Parkersburg Police Department said Monday the new pattern has begun to cause some issues of vehicle safety.
Mayor Bob Newell said those issues should change once residents have been made aware of the change. New additions will make it clear to residents the right side of the street will now be used as a bike lane, he said.
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Photo by Mandi Cardosi
The intersection of Eighth and Juliana streets will begin a one-lane road on Juliana Street at the beginning of the Julia-Ann Square Historic District.
The one-way portion of Juliana Street from Eighth to Ninth streets will cease to be a two-lane street, officials said Monday. The addition of a bike lane is in an attempt to make the city more "bike-friendly," said Newell. The lane for bicycles will also be an add-on of the Little Kanawha connector trail, he said.
"(The city) held a precautionary survey up Juliana Street, four or five (residents) didn't think (the bike lane) was a good idea," he said. "There were 30 or more who wanted to do it."
Newell said the city has been working closely with the historic district in the safety concerns of the street and the need for some commuters to use the historic district as a short-cut.
"Hopefully it will encourage people not to use (the street) as a short-cut to avoid traffic," added Newell. "It's not anything that can't be rethought, though."
Newell noted the street as being the only two-lane street in a residential area of the city.
Members of the historic district hope making Juliana Street a one-lane street will cause motorists to slow down, he said.
Police remind residents that due to the change there will only be parking on the left, or west, side of the street.
Newell said the change came at a time after the street was repaved and necessary changes were made.
"Poles will go up soon," he added. "We will also use a sign the department of highways should loan us to notify people of the new traffic pattern change ahead."
