By Angela T. Koenig
Enquirer contributor

WESTWOOD - The end of parking restrictions along Harrison Avenue in the Westwood Business District seems to be helping businesses without hurting traffic flow.

"No one to my knowledge has experienced any significant problems," Cincinnati Traffic Engineer Steve Bailey said of the decision to lift parking restrictions based on a 2003 traffic study.

The study was prompted by a petition from residents and business owners, and part of the Westwood Urban Redevelopment Plan.

Previously there was no parking from 4-6 p.m. on Harrison outbound from downtown Cincinnati. The restriction was lifted last fall between Kling Avenue and the Westwood/Cheviot corporation line.

"It has affected us in a great way, especially over the holidays," said Mona Wise of Rondo's, a new Harrison Avenue restaurant. "We open at 4 p.m. but we weren't getting people in the door at that time because they couldn't park."

The only parking restrictions now, said Bailey, are on the opposite side of Harrison, from 6-9 a.m. in the right inbound lane.

The cost to take down the old signs and replace them with new ones, he said, was about $1,200.