AKRON, Ohio — Cnverting the one-way Exchange Street to two-way traffic will help ambulances arrive safely and pedestrians navigate the Akron Children’s Hospital campus, the hospital’s chief operating officer says.
The city on Monday announced that parts of the one-way Cedar and Exchange streets will become two-way. Work is expected to begin this summer and be completed by early 2018, according a press release sent out by the city Monday.
The portion of Exchange Street being converted is near the hospital, and the switch to a two-way could help with pedestrian safety, said Grace Wakulchik, chief operating officer of Akron Children’s Hospital.
“With the many changes occurring to the streets around the hospital and the increased activity in the downtown area, making Exchange Street two-way will help slow traffic and make it safer and easier for patients and families trying to navigate our campus,” she said, in the press release. “The enhanced connection with downtown will also make it easier for our families and staff to enjoy downtown businesses and activities.”
The release also notes that the change could make it easier for safety vehicles to navigate the area, especially from Ohio Route 59.
Mayor Dan Horrigan, in an interview with cleveland.com last month, said the changes on Cedar and Exchange streets would also slow down traffic, which would make the area more pedestrian friendly and spark economic development.
Read more: Akron plans to make 4 downtown one-way roads two-way: See where and why
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