COLUMBUS, Ohio — More than a mile of East Hudson Street was reopened to two-way traffic on Tuesday.
"We're finally glad [East] Hudson [Street] is open two ways now," laughed Katrina Mason, who lives nearby.
The new pavement, sidewalks, water pipes and walking paths along the road are a sight to the sore eyes of those who've lost two years of sleep due to the construction.
"[It has been] miserable. A lot of banging. Everything," said Trenise Mason who lives nearby.
And it was also a welcome sight to those who lost two years of profits.
"We have lost quite a lot of business during the construction phase, especially when they were doing the storm [drains] And the piping and the water lines. But it's good for the community," said Jamal Qutifan, who owns a business off of East Hudson street.
The road's reconstruction is part of the city's "One Linden" plan. Mayor Andrew Ginther told 10TV the goal is to revitalize the community.
"This is going to be much safer for people in car[s], but also on foot and on bike. Really, it's going to make it a much more attractive corridor for homeowners, for residents but also business owners," he said.
But it's work that those who live in the community said can't stop with physically fixing the streets. They also want to see efforts to improve safety.
"Controlling younger boys with guns that don't need 'em," said Mason.
10TV shared that concern with Ginther. And he told us that the city has launched a pilot program to try and stop deadly shootings in the area before they happen.
"There's a very small number of folks who are committing the majority of the violence in our community so really focusing on those shootings. Because it very likely that if there's a nonfatal shooting that the next act by folks involved may end up in a homicide," said Ginther.
To learn more more about that program, click here.