Which way to drive? More one-way streets in downtown Wichita becoming two-way

All of downtown Wichita’s north-south streets will soon be open to two-way traffic.

Main Street will fully open to two-way traffic Thursday, according to signs posted on the street.

The city also confirmed that the two-way conversion for Market Street will be completed ahead of Riverfest, which begins May 30.

Main and Market are the last two streets to be converted as part of the city’s $4.9 million in renovations to downtown streets.

Emporia, Topeka, and English streets were all converted to two-way traffic downtown earlier this year.

“Project includes traffic signal modifications, asphalt overlay, and pavement markings,” a city construction bulletin reads.

The converted streets have been one-way streets for a number of years with the intention of helping the flow of traffic into and out of the downtown core. According to the city, the conversion will be safer for vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

The conversion is part of the city’s Downtown Streets Conceptual Plan, approved by the council in 2023.

That plan also includes eventually implementing what are called “road diets,” on Broadway, Waterman and William streets. Road diets reduce the number of lanes for vehicles in an effort to slow traffic to make the streets more bike and pedestrian friendly.

This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 3:55 AM.