Construction of the Town of Barnstable’s Downtown Hyannis Great Streets roadway improvement project will commence October 2026. The two-way conversion is expected to be completed at the earliest by Summer 2027. This project is funded by State and Federal funding sources.
The Great Streets Downtown Hyannis project re-envisions how Main Street Hyannis and the surrounding streets and intersections are designed and function by returning to two-way travel. An overview of this roadway improvement project is summarized below.
The Great Streets Downtown Hyannis project includes the conversion of Main Street, South Street, Old Colony and Ocean Street to two-way travel. Converting to a two-way network will help to disperse travel in multiple directions, reducing congestion. The implementation of two-way travel will predominately involve restriping the roadway within the current right-of-way footprint. Pedestrian accommodations will be enhanced with ADA upgrades, reduction in crosswalk distance and installation of high-visibility markings. Vehicular and pedestrian safety will be increased by reducing lane widths to slow traffic and through the conversion of several signals to stop signs, forcing drivers to slow down and pay attention to other roadway users.
Main Street, South Street, Old Colony Road & Ocean Street
As a part of this project, the one-way stretches of Main Street, South Street, Ocean Street and Old Colony Road will be converted to two-way travel. The conversion to two-way travel will be achieved within the current roadway by simply restriping the road. All parking along Main Street will be retained. Additional parking will be added along several side streets and at the western end of Main Street for a net gain of parking. Designated delivery zone signage will be added along Main Street.
Old Colony Road & North Street
Multi-modal transportation will be improved through the Great Streets project with bicycle lanes along North Street and South Street and the addition of shared-use paths/sidewalk along Old Colony Road, from South Street to Main Street, and North Street, from Stevens Street to West Main Street.
Intersection of Main Street & South Street
Currently, vehicles entering Main Street traveling westbound are immediately diverted to South Street. Through the Great Streets project, Main Street and South Street will be converted to two-way travel, allowing vehicles to enter Main Street. Additionally, the intersection of Main Street and South Street will be reconfigured, enabling the creation of a new public park. A total of 15 on-street parking spaces will be added along Main Street between the rotary.
Intersection of South Street, Ocean Street & Old Colony Road
The intersection of South Street, Ocean Street and Old Colony Road, referred to as “Six Points,” will be reconfigured as a roundabout with enhanced pedestrian accommodations. The roundabout will improve traffic safety by slowing vehicular speed while enabling a continuous traffic flow.
Construction for the project will commence Fall 2026. The two-way conversion is expected to be completed at the earliest by Summer 2027.
Construction of the Downtown Hyannis Great Streets project is the culmination of a four-year effort. The project began with an analysis of existing conditions in 2022. A kick-off meeting was provided in Fall of 2022 through which feedback was obtained and informed conceptual designs presented in Winter of 2023. The concept plans were refined based on community feedback and the final Great Streets Downtown Hyannis Plan was presented in Spring of 2023. The project team developed 75% construction drawings which were presented to the public in Summer of 2025. The construction plans were advanced to 100% and the Request for Proposal for a consultant to construct the project was posted in Winter of 2026.
Related Exhibit: Two-Way Travel from South Street
The Town of Barnstable’s Planning & Development and Department of Public Works partnered with walkability expert Jeff Speck and Stantec Consulting Services to develop the Great Streets Downtown Hyannis Plan , which includes concepts for Main Street, key intersections including “Six Points” (intersection of South Street, Ocean Street & Old Colony Road), a proposed bicycle network, and circulation changes throughout downtown Hyannis. The Plan was informed by previous planning efforts, input from Town staff and feedback from local residents and merchants received through an iterative and multi-pronged community-input process. Ultimately, the Great Streets Downtown Hyannis Plan establishes roadway designs that respond to the overall project goals of addressing congestion, placing more of an emphasis on pedestrians, enhancing the public realm through placemaking in support of economic development, employing traffic calming measures to enhance safety, and encouraging multi-modal transportation.
Construction of the Downtown Hyannis Great Streets project is the culmination of a four-year effort. The project began with an analysis of existing conditions in 2022. A kick-off meeting was provided in Fall of 2022 through which feedback was obtained and informed conceptual designs presented in Winter of 2023. The concept plans were refined based on community feedback and the final Great Streets Downtown Hyannis Plan was presented in Spring of 2023. The project team developed 75% construction drawings which were presented to the public in Summer of 2025. The construction plans were advanced to 100% and the Request for Proposal for a consultant to construct the project was posted in Winter of 2026.
If you have comments or questions about this project, please contact James Kupfer, Director of Planning and Development, at James.Kupfer@barnstable.gov, or call the Planning and Development office at 508-862-4678.
