4th street to become two-way

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The direction of a street may not seem like a big deal, but in the city of Terre Haute, they're hoping that changing the flow of traffic on some streets could help revitalize downtown.
    
One way or two ways? Does the flow of traffic actually matter? In Terre Haute, that's something the city council is banking on.

"There are some one way streets downtown that seem to make sense to change back to two ways,” Councilman Todd Nation said.
    
Nation said that allowing streets to go two ways adds more traffic downtown and can help businesses down town.

"At 4th and cherry we have a new bookstore, (its) a new destination retail spot," Nation said.
    
So last night the city council approved an ordnance to change 4th street back to two way.

"This (change) is one that occurs in the plans for Indiana State, it's also in the downtown vision project,” Nation explained.
    
But what goes into sending traffic two ways?

Speaking with city engineer Chuck Ennis to find out he said in total the project would cost around 250,000 dollars.

"There’s currently a bike trail on the west side of 4th street that will need to be removed. All the curb, theres a curb in the center that will need to be removed,” Ennis explained.

The city will also have to add traffic signals.
    
Given the state of the city's finances, a project like this would be difficult to add to an already rationed fiscal plate; especially in the general fund.

"We can use other funds, we can use edit tax, economic development income tax for this economic development project,” Nation said.
    
But 4th street isn't the end of the street changes, in fact according to the Downtown Vision plan it's probably just the beginning.

"Next we'll probably be talking about 8th street along it's whole stretch,” Nation said of the future.
    
A city working to grow downtown with a simple change of direction. The new street direction is effective august 15th, 2014.