Westbound lanes to close as Market Street project advances in Old City

Westbound Market Street in Old City will close for over three months starting August 4 to allow for a $16 million redesign project. The closure will impact the area between 2nd and 6th streets, with detours for westbound drivers utilizing Front, Arch, and 6th streets. The redesign will reduce car lanes from two to one in each direction, adding a center turn lane at intersections, along with a new parking-protected bike lane. City officials expect the project to be completed by April, aligning with the Semiquincentennial celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The plan includes a pedestrian plaza at 2nd and Market, centered around the Tamanend statue, which may move closer to the site after negotiations with Native American tribes.

The redesign follows a decade-long effort by the Old City District to gather public input on improving safety on roads classified as high injury areas. The project also aims to enhance bus stop accessibility with expanded concrete bump-outs and upgraded sidewalk ramps. With traffic deaths and serious injuries concentrated on only 12% of the city’s streets, the redesign signifies a critical step towards safer urban transportation.