The City of Findlay’s Blanchard Street project is one step closer to reality.

On Tuesday night, the Findlay City Council Appropriations Committee recommended that council move forward with the project that would reconfigure Blanchard Street into one lane in either direction, and a dedicated center turn lane, from Sixth Street to Center Street.

The project also calls for a bike lane to be constructed on either side of the street.

The city has said the reconfiguration will make the road safer for drivers and pedestrians.

Some residents have been outspoken in their opposition to the project.

The mayor admitted the project could have been better communicated to the public.

The full city council could vote on approving grant money from ODOT for the project as early as their meeting on Tuesday, November 19th.

The estimated cost of the project is $2.7 million, of which all but $214,000 would be covered by grants.

The city says its max share of the cost of the project would be no more than $328,000.