Redmond gets rid of one-way streets

REDMOND, Wash. — The city of Redmond is making some big changes to downtown.

After 30 years the city is getting rid of one-way streets. The goal is to make downtown Redmond an urban center.

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Redmond Way and Cleveland Street became one-way streets in 1986. The city says the change was confusing to many drivers who would have to circle the block to get to their destination.

After years of planning, city planners are changing it back. Redmond Way and Cleveland Street will carry two-way traffic in 2017.

"It's changed dramatically over the last 30 years," said Don Cairns, Redmond's Transportation Planning and Engineering Manager. The two-way streets will "reclaim the street for people to be more walkable, bike-able, transit friendly."

Instead of people just driving through downtown Redmond, now many people live in mixed-use buildings on Cleveland Street. The city wants to adjust the streets to fit with the change.

The plan makes Redmond Way more of a through street with a higher speed limit. Cleveland Street will become the city's "Main Street," a destination with shops and restaurants.

"It will have a slower speed limit than Redmond Way. So this will be the more pedestrian-friendly street where Redmond way will be a higher speed limit through town," said Jill Smith, Redmond's Economic Development Manager.

The city hasn't decided the exact speed limits yet.

Businesses on Cleveland Street are looking forward to two-way traffic.

Super Jock 'N Jill on Cleveland Street sells running and sports gear. The two-way streets will make it easier for customers to find them.

"We're excited. We get a lot of people who are kind of confused about how to get here," said store manager Evan Riggs. Riggs said Google maps takes customers a round-about way.

Two-way streets will make it a more direct route; it will also have more customers passing by.

Woodblock Restaurant on Cleveland Street opened a week ago. Owners Tony and Carolyn Scott are excited to have a prime spot on Redmond's new "main street."

"I like the idea of an old downtown street that really engages the community and the neighborhood," said Tony Scott, "I like the two-way (streets), definitely. I think the idea is having this street be more of a downtown, an old style downtown."

Construction will begin this spring. The project will take about 18 months.

Twelve intersections will need to be re-done -- including new utilities, signals and signage.

The project will be completed in late 2017.

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Cox Media Group