Savannah city officials recently confirmed several temporary changes will impact Bay St. from East Broad to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The initiative, effective Sept. 11 through Oct. 9, is part of a pilot program to test certain measures in an effort to improve traffic flow and increase pedestrian safety along one of the city’s most active streets. This means truck traffic will also be prohibited from traveling on Bay from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
According to a city-wide press release, short-term changes will prohibit street parking on Bay Street and widen travel lanes to standard width. Reports also state there will be new installations of temporary bollards and chains on sidewalks and traffic barrels in roadway to mark proposed medians.
The city recognizes the prohibition of parking on Bay St. will be an inconvenience for the project’s duration. Savannah residents and students are advised to observe the alternative parking options, which include additional free parking at a surface lot located east of East Broad at Broughton St. The Liberty St. Parking Garage free shuttle will expand its service to include this lot, and its hours will be extended to run continuously between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
City parking will also be free in all city garages after 5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday during this month-long project.
Written by Emilie Kefalas.
