N. 4th Street and E. 5th Avenue Bikeway and Roadway Safety Improvements

The City of Columbus, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation, is constructing safety improvements along N. 4^th Street from Warren Street to Hudson Street that include creating a protected bike lane of more than 2 miles. N. 4^th Street is an important north-south route connecting several neighborhoods.

The existing 4^th Street bike lane along the west side of the street will be moved to the curb lane, and the parking lane will move to the outside of the new protected bike lane, separating bicyclists from vehicle traffic. These lanes will be resurfaced. Floating pedestrian islands will be installed at Neruda Avenue and at 6^th Avenue, where existing pedestrian crossing signals are located. The islands will provide a separated concrete space outside the thru bike lane for people to stand, activate the pedestrian signal and prepare to cross 4^th Street.

In addition, E. 5^th Avenue from High Street to 5^th Street will be resurfaced and restriped to modify the roadway’s existing four lanes to one travel lane in each direction with a center left-turn lane and parking on the south side. Other safety improvements will modify the E. 5^th intersections at Summit Street and at High Street. The changes are aimed at reducing crashes and driver speeds. Work on this part of the project will begin after the 4th Street work is substantially complete.

This bikeway and roadway safety project is located on the Vision Zero Columbus High Injury Network due to the number of serious or fatal crashes, and/or crashes involving vulnerable road users like people walking, biking or on a motorcycle.

It also passes through Vision Zero Communities of Interest areas. Residents in Communities of Interest may have fewer choices about how, when and where they travel, putting them at higher risk as they move around. Extra investment in roadway and other transportation safety improvements may be needed to enhance safety.