Plans for the protected bicycle lanes on Broad Street - photo by Hollie Webb

Plans for the protected bicycle lanes on Broad Street - photo by Hollie Webb

Plans for the protected bicycle lanes on Broad Street - photo by Hollie Webb

Plans for the protected bicycle lanes on Broad Street - photo by Hollie Webb

Construction of the first protected bicycles lanes in Chattanooga will begin in Spring 2015 according to the Chattanooga Department of Transportation.

The lanes will be downtown, going from Martin Luther King Boulevard to Aquarium Way on approximately .6 miles of Broad Street.

The street's six through lanes will be reduced to four to make room for the bike lanes. Sidewalk size will also be increased.

The bike lanes will be protected from traffic by curbing, on-street parking and a median. Pedestrians will also no longer have to worry about bikers on the sidewalks, said officials.

The city hopes the new lanes will encourage downtown residents to bike rather than drive more often. Eventually, the city wants to connect the lanes to various neighborhoods surrounding the downtown area. St. Elmo will be the first.

DOT representatives noted that if even a small portion of commuters started biking, it would help with traffic and parking.

Depending on the success of the Broad Street lanes, Cherokee Avenue is a possible consideration in the future.