CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) — Main Street in Cortland officially opens to two-way traffic. 

Retired Police Chief Jim Nichols leads a ceremonial first drive after an “informal ribbon cutting ceremony” at 6 a.m. at the corner of Main and Tompkins Street. Mayor Scott Steve says it’ll mark the first time Main Street has been accessible to drivers going in two directions in over 70 years. 

The project was funded through the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant and includes new back-in angle parking, which also officially kicks off today. The city is planning a more formal ceremony, called Meet Me on Main Street, on July 17.

To educate the public on the traffic change, the city has published a list of FAQs.