Washington Street change excites Iowa City business owners

IOWA CITY -- Changes to a two block section of Washington Street have local business owners excited.

Next week, the city plans to begin converting the downtown portion of the street into a two-way road.  For the past 36 years, both lanes have only gone one way.

"I think it will be good for us," said Dave Landau, owner of the Brown Bottle restaurant, 115 E. Washington St.  "There have been so many people that drive the wrong way up it and everything, I think it will be a good change."

The city hopes to begin work to transform the road, from Clinton Street to Linn Street, next Friday.  The change will make it easier for emergency vehicles to navigate downtown, and also provide a safer route to bicycle riders who currently use Burlington Street, said Kris Ackerson of the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County.

"I'm excited because I think it's going to help the flow of traffic," said Joni Schrup, owner of the Discerning Eye, 119 E. Washington St.  "I totally understand that having this odd one-way street in the middle of town doesn't really make sense."

Ackerson said the cost to the city will be minimal because little construction will be necessary.

"(It will just be) flipping parking spots and some new signs," Ackerson said.

The city hopes to have the project completed by the end of the month.