Muncie moves toward two-way streets in downtown

But it was the addition of four-way stops along those routes that prompted council member Linda Gregory to object.

“Why make all these streets four-way (stops)?” Gregory said. “Why would anyone want to come downtown?”

The measures for changing portions of the streets from one-way to two-way were introduced at Monday’s council meeting, with final action still to come.

The ordinances included one for changing traffic from one-way to two-way on Walnut Street downtown between Main Street on the north and the traffic roundabout on the south. The maximum speed would be 20 miles per hour with a three-way stop at Walnut and Charles and a four-way stop at Walnut and Adams.

Walnut is in the middle of a streetscape overhaul that will see the surface repaved and stormwater drain located in the middle of the street rather than at curbs. Sidewalks have already been replaced. The project is supposed to be completed in October.