Businesses to stay open as Market Square upgrade, traffic shifts begin

A yearlong renovation to Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh scheduled to begin Tuesday will cause a shift in traffic patterns.

Construction will start in the north half of the square, including McMasters, Market and Graeme streets.

One-way traffic heading toward Downtown on Forbes Avenue from Wood Street to Stanwix Street will be routed around the southern half of the square throughout the summer.

When construction shifts to the other side of the square later this year, traffic will be rerouted to the north.

Launched by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the Market Square facelift will install a new semi-circular trellis canopy where people can gather for events. It also will limit vehicle traffic and add more greenery and seating.

Pedestrians will be able to access Market Square throughout the construction, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership said in a news release, and all businesses will stay open.

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership over the last 10 months held a series of meetings with businesses in an effort to mitigate the impacts of construction. The organization plans to assist with marketing and promotion efforts to support Market Square businesses during the project.

Market Square welcomes about 3.1 million visitors per year, according to the partnership.

Partnership President Jeremy Waldrup has estimated the project will cost between $14 million and $16 million. The goal is to finish the work in time for the 2026 NFL Draft in late April of that year.

New York-based Field Operations is spearheading the operations. The same landscape architecture and urban design team created the High Line park in New York City and designed Arts Landing, an outdoor recreation and event space to be built in the city’s Cultural District.

Both projects are part of a larger $600 million effort championed by Gov. Josh Shapiro to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh.