Amid a flurry of ongoing new development, downtown Merced’s West Main Street is about to change direction – literally.

City officials confirmed the long-planned traffic shift will officially start around July 14. The one-way section of Main Street in the heart of downtown will flip from its current eastbound flow of traffic to westbound, between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and O Street.

“The project involves converting Main Street to one-way traffic to enhance traffic flow and increase parking availability,” said Jennifer Flachman, Merced’s public information officer.

The switch is part of the city’s broader downtown roadway construction project, which began in May and is expected to be completed by mid-July.

Plus, renovations to expand downtown’s Bob Hart Square began in March.

Police Chief Urges Caution During Construction

Merced Police Chief Steven Stanfield on a social media post urged residents to exercise caution as construction continues, adding that the city may organize a festive event to mark the change and encourage support for downtown businesses.

“We might even do some kind of fun parade to celebrate the direction change,” he said. “Be patient, drive slow, watch the signs, and remember Main Street’s open for business.”

As part of the final construction phase, Main Street will be entirely inaccessible for about a week starting July 7. Crews will repave key intersections and remove exposed water pipes.

“(This will) allow crews to remove and repave the crosswalks, as well as the section of pavement at the intersection of Canal and Main streets,” Flachman said. “During this time, exposed water pipes on Canal Street will also be removed, and the area will be filled and repaved.”

Broader Downtown Revitalization Effort

Preliminary pavement markings are already being applied to 18th, Main, and 16th streets as part of the directional change preparation. Final pavement markings will follow shortly after, said Flachman.

The directional change and roadway upgrades are part of a broader effort to revitalize the downtown area.

The adjacent $3.5 million renovation of Bob Hart Square, which is funded in part by the American Rescue Plan Act, includes new trees, shaded seating, and a performance stage.

Flachman confirmed the Main Street roadway project is funded separately, with an estimated cost of $1.3 million, also covered by ARPA funds.

Earlier this week, Councilmember Sarah Boyle joined Stanfield at the corner of Canal and Main streets to encourage community patience and support.

“We are in the middle of our downtown reconstruction, where we have been repaving Main Street, and we are adding more parking spots,” Boyle said. “We are doing this to provide safer streets in our downtown area.”

Stanfield asked for patience as the signage is being rearranged.

“We’re hoping to have a better traffic flow and a safer roadway construction,” he said.

Enhanced Accessibility and Community Engagement

The city says it is actively engaging the public through multiple channels to raise awareness about the project.

“A dedicated project site is available at engage.cityofmerced.org, where residents can find detailed updates,” Flachman said. “Additionally, the city is posting regular video updates featuring our city council representatives, the chief of police, and the project manager to keep the community informed and involved.”

She added that the Merced Police Department will monitor the area closely in the initial weeks following the directional change, and public works staff will remain involved as needed to support the transition.

Flachman also confirmed the project includes additional accessibility measures.

“The existing downtown sidewalks are already ADA accessible,” she said. “As part of this project, we are enhancing accessibility by adding additional handicap parking spaces to better serve individuals with disabilities.”

City leaders continue to emphasize that all downtown businesses remain open, and parking is available on and around Main Street.

“This will be a beautiful project when it’s done,” Stanfield said.

The directional flip has been in motion since 2022, when the Merced City Council approved the change after a one-way traffic pilot program. Before May 2021 that section of Main Street was a two-way road.

City staff said at the time that reversing the direction made more sense for business layout and visibility, and that diagonal parking would add at least 96 new spaces.

About the Author

As the Bilingual Community Issues Reporter for The Merced Focus, Christian De Jesus Betancourt is dedicated to illuminating the vibrant stories of the Latino Community of Merced. His journey is deeply rooted in the experiences of migration and the pursuit of a better life.