By Duane W. Gang and Mike O’Neal Staff Writers

With the phased-in conversion to two-way traffic on McCallie Avenue, M.L. King Boulevard and Bailey Avenue, motorists and pedestrians today begin looking in both directions while navigating these former one-way streets.

Early this morning, workers were to replace old one-way signs with two-way markers and pull back orange barrels, according to Jeff Pfitzer, Chattanooga’s director of capital planning. The shift to two-way traffic was to begin at the intersection of M.L. King and Georgia Avenue and proceed, one block at a time, down M.L. King/Bailey Avenue and return on McCallie.

"Everything is a go," Mr. Pfitzer said.

Today caps a nearly three-year effort to convert the streets to two-way traffic to aid neighborhood revitalization and economic development. Residents and some business owners first approached Mayor Bob Corker about the conversion in May 2001. "It’s going to be good for the community," local businessman Gerald Mason said. "Everybody’s going to have to adjust to it, but it’ll be good."

But not everyone thinks so. "They’re going to make people find a new way through town," said Durand Wiley as he cut Charles Parker’s hair at the Blue Boy Barber Shop on M.L. King Boulevard.

"They should have left it alone. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like with two-way traffic," Mr. Parker said. "The city could have used the money a lot better in the schools than to make a mess down here."

Bob Elmore, a leader with Save Our Streets, a group opposed to the conversion, said he does not think two-way traffic will help business activity. "If switching to two-way is such a magic solution, how come business isn’t thriving on Third Street, or Main Street or 23 rd Street?" he said.

Opponents argue that changing the streets will pose safety hazards, cause traffic congestion and add pollution.

"They’ll probably have a wreck the first day," Ralph Lewis said. Chattanooga’s traffic engineer from 1955 to 1982, Mr. Lewis said safety concerns prompted a shift from two-way to one-way traffic in 1957.

Safety remains a priority for those involved in the conversion. "The real big message I want to get out there is slow down, pay attention and look both ways pay attention and look both ways before you cross the street," Mr. Pftizer said.

Chattanooga Police Department Deputy Chief Charles Cooke said every effort will be made to keep everyone as safe as possible. The conversion today does not include all lanes of traffic. Only the eastbound lanes and the curbside westbound lane of M.L. King/Bailey will be open. On McCallie two westbound lanes and the curbside eastbound lane will be open, except between Georgia Avenue and Central Avenue where only one lane in each direction will be open, Mr. Pfitzer said.

"It is another increment of transition," he said.

All lanes are expected to be open by Jan. 6.

"If we are happy with the way things are flowing, we will open them up at that time," Mr. Pfitzer said. "The main issue is safety. We want to make sure we take as much time to make sure people are comfortable with the change."