North Fourth Street is about to become the backbone of Columbus biking, as the city closes in on finishing a new 2.5-mile protected lane that is already carrying riders through parts of the corridor. Crews are still buttoning up pavement markings, signage, and barriers, and city staff says the work should be wrapped up by mid-July. The redesign flips the layout on the west side of the street, with the bike lane pulled next to the curb and the parking lane shifted outward so parked cars and, where needed, bollards form a physical buffer from moving traffic.
Finishing Touches, Temporary Parking Rules
Some stretches of the new lane are open to cyclists, but the project is not officially complete. City Public Service spokesperson Debbie Briner told Columbus Underground that crews still need to finish painting and install bollards along the corridor before it is considered done.
"We have asked the contractor to install the bike lane pavement markings in that lane as soon as possible to keep parking out of it," Briner said. According to Columbus Underground, temporary signs now ban parking from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day while construction continues, and crews are still waiting on bollard deliveries for the Indianola section.
Design, Funding and Parking Trade-offs
City project materials spell out the reconfiguration in detail. The curb-adjacent bike lane will be protected by parked cars where possible and by K-71 bollards in areas without parked vehicles, while the parking lane sits to the outside of the protected lane. The project fact sheet shows the corridor running 2.5 miles from Warren Street to East Hudson Street, funded with Ohio Department of Transportation safety dollars.
To improve sightlines, the project removes roughly 20 percent of on-street parking near intersections. The Bike Plus 2025 annual report lists North Fourth as a near-term connection intended to close a north-south gap in the network and link to other protected bikeways around the city.
Where This Fits in the City's Plan
The North Fourth upgrade is one of several near-term bikeway projects Columbus is prioritizing to make everyday trips safer and more practical, especially on streets that link neighborhoods to downtown. WOSU has covered the Bike Plus rollout and notes that those near-term connections include parts of Fourth and Summit streets as well as Frebis Avenue.
Together with the Indianola and Summit work, city planners say the new facilities create a longer, lower-stress north-south option for people biking between Morse Road and downtown.
Next Steps and What Riders Should Know
Once complete, riders can expect a continuous, physically separated route that links Italian Village, Old North, and downtown. Neighbors along the corridor should be ready for some loss of curb parking near busy intersections where spaces have been removed for visibility.
The city told Columbus Underground that striping and remaining barrier work should be finished by mid-July and is asking motorists to respect temporary no-parking signs while crews are on site. For maps, schedules and project contacts, residents can consult the city’s Public Service project materials, including the project fact sheet and the Bike Plus 2025 annual report.
