Officials with the Town of Coupeville are taking necessary steps to turn part of Front Street into a one-way road.

Town council read the first reading of an ordinance that will change Front Street, starting at North Main Street all the way to Northeast Ninth Street, to a one-way road for eastbound traffic only.

The decision is in response to mitigating bluff erosion, which occurred early last year.

The erosion crumbled part of the pedestrian walking path along the road and it has been closed since.

After having two engineers review the situation, Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard said both engineers recommended changing the traffic pattern and moving the pedestrian path around the slide as the least expensive option.

Part of mitigating the issue will also include doing some cleanup and work on the erosion itself.

Conard said that the town had hoped to have ordinance passed prior to the Fourth of July, but scheduling didn’t work in their favor.

A second reading of the ordinance and a public hearing on the issue will be held during a regular town council meeting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 22 in the Island County Commissioner’s hearing room.

The July 8 council meeting was cancelled because Conard will be out of town.

Conard said she talked with all but three residents along that road and all she spoke with were supportive of the decision.

Once the ordinance is in place, the town will place signage for the changes.

“We’re going to try minimal signs and add if it becomes a problem,” Conard said.