ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lane restrictions and turn closures are beginning this week at 7th and Hamilton streets, marking the official start of the Center Square Redesign Project.
Crews on Monday began a five-phase schedule of lane restrictions for work on a waterline beneath the intersection.
The work will continue through at least mid-November and is expected to cause periodic detours for drivers traveling through the downtown.
Current scheduling listed on a city Facebook post includes:
- Oct. 20-22: Lane restrictions only
- Oct. 23-29: No left turn onto Hamilton Street (southbound 7th Street)
- Oct. 30-31: Lane restrictions only
- Nov. 3-4: No right turn onto 7th Street (eastbound Hamilton Street)
- Nov. 5-14: Lane restrictions only
The scope of the project
The waterline work is the first visible step in a broader effort to overhaul Center Square — one of Allentown’s busiest and most recognizable crossroads — and make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The project moved forward last year with the full backing of officials, gaining approval from the city Planning Commission in early August 2024.
The move would eliminate several lanes for vehicles. Hamilton Street traffic would no longer split around the Sailors and Soldiers monument — instead, all traffic on that street would be routed to the left of the statue.Allentown city plans
Plans for the project include extending plazas on the northeast and southeast corners of 7th and Hamilton to create more space for gathering and events.
The move would eliminate several lanes for vehicles. Hamilton Street traffic would no longer split around the Sailors and Soldiers monument — instead, all traffic on that street would be routed to the left of the statue, according to the plans.
The left-turn lane from 7th Street to Hamilton Street also would be covered by a plaza, leaving two lanes for vehicular traffic, and a bike lane would run along the left side of two vehicular traffic lanes on Seventh Street.
City planners have said the redesign reflects public feedback gathered during community workshops, where residents called for a downtown with more space for people to walk, gather, and hold events.
The project also supports Mayor Matt Tuerk’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030.
Funding for the redesign will come from the state Transportation Department of Transportation and Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone’s Public Improvement Investment Program.
The city expects the full project to be complete by the end of 2026.
