Lexington is experimenting with a $2.1 million way to relieve traffic congestion.

Its One-Way Pair Project officially launched June 23.

Drivers are still adapting to one way traffic on parts of Church Street and Lake Drive.

Construction still underway will prevent the full effects from being fully realized for a few weeks.

The project was adopted by Lexington’s Town Council in 2012.

Saturday marked the moment when enough construction was complete to convert the streets.

The project will use one way streets to improve northbound and southbound traffic flow.

It is intended to improve traffic on Main Street by improving efficiency at Lake Drive.

In the short term, this will increase the green light time to vehicles on Main Street by about 40%, said Lexington town administrator Britt Poole.

It should also ease traffic pressure on Lake Drive.

Out of habit, some drivers found themselves traveling in the wrong direction on the one-way streets over the weekend. Poole said the Town sent out traffic directors to turn these individuals around.

“We’ve had good luck with that,” Poole said.

Because of ongoing construction, traffic is moving relatively slowly. That’s a good thing though, Poole said, as it should help prevent accidents while people adjust to the one way streets.

The Town still needs to complete painting, repaving and patching. This should be wrapped up in several weeks “if it will quit raining,” Poole said.

Permanent striping, introducing signage, cleaning and planting grass are yet to come.

Still on the agenda is putting up signs for downtown parking and tourist attractions.

The project is the first of a series of initiatives funded by the hospitality tax. Next, the town will focus on intersection improvements and adding an additional lane in front of the middle school.

Even mid sized projects may take 15 to 20 years, Poole said.