MEMPHIS, Tenn, — Plans to build a pedestrian walkway along the Harahan Bridge over the Mississippi River are now part of a larger, national project.

The big river strategic initiative plans to build a paved cycling path that will run all the way to New Orleans.

Organizers are trying to attract cyclists from around the world to explore the Mississippi Delta.

The Big River Strategic Initiative hopes to have the bike trail and pedestrian bridge finished in two years.

That Harahan bridge project is what has Riverside Drive down to two lanes just one in each direction.

The other two lanes are now reserved for bikers and walkers.

It hasn’t been the most popular plan with drivers, especially after an accident on Riverside Drive this week shut down the road, trapping those who were already on it.

Riverside Drive is one of the main routes in and out of downtown Memphis.

Kyle Wagenschutz is the bike and pedestrian coordinator for the City of Memphis and says we should keep our minds open about the change.

Wagenschutz told us the number of people using the bike lane has been increasing.

Mayor Wharton wants to make the lane changes permanent along with other changes in Riverside Park.