CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Starting Saturday, crews blocked off one lane of South Tryon Street in each direction.

Orange cones are up as a part of a road conversion project by the Charlotte Department of Transportation. The lanes will be blocked for a 90 day trial period as CDOT evaluates a plan to make the trek between Uptown and South End more pedestrian and bike friendly.

The redesigned traffic flow will allow space for bicycle lanes and wider sidewalks. The project spans from Carson Blvd. to Stonewall Street.

Chris Healy, owner of the Gin Mill bar in South End said, “Overall it sounds like a good idea.” Healy hopes the road conversion on South Tryon will only help to bring more crowds his way.

Healy said, “South End is growing more and more. It’s been good for us and I think obviously a plan like this seems like it would be geared towards helping our business.”

With the work week around the corner, CDOT will be watching to see if the lane closures will cause headaches for drivers. Bar patron Pat O’Grady said he didn’t think it would be a problem. “Traffic problems can be addressed and diverted,” O’Grady said.

Healy said if there are backups, “people might stop off and wait it out instead of fighting the traffic so it could help us either way.”

CDOT will collect data on traffic flow using video monitoring and complete a public survey before deciding whether to make the lane closures permanent.