For anyone who hasn’t heard, and for those who have heard and want more details, the following streets will become two-way around dawn on August 16th (they’re painting double yellow lines at 4am): Market, Merrimack, Central, and Shattuck (no, they’re not painting a line on the cobblestones, they’re using barrels and cones for the moment).
Palmer, Middle, and Prescott will remain one way.
The idea of all this is to make access to downtown businesses easier and to give more of a small town feel. Personally, I thought our claim to fame was being the first industrial city in the US, but I suppose there’s something to be said for encouraging commerce.
For a detailed map: http://www.lowellma.gov/dpd/Traffic/Documents/T0462_Lowell%20Two-Way_Final_Colored%20Graphic.pdf
For more info: http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_26249800/firm-details-set-traffic-changes-downtown-lowell
I’m hopeful that these traffic changes will have the intended effect. We’ll soon find out. (And, thanks for doing this website!)
-Pete
You’re welcome! I’m just hoping no pedestrians get hit once they have to look both ways. And I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to get around all the people double-parked on Market and Merrimack on my way home from work with only one lane each way. But one hopes it’s all been researched carefully enough that it will work out for the better.