After 18 months and traffic snarls, Market Street improvements in Old City are complete

Brothers Allen Joseph and Anser Bhatti own Liberty Scoops ice cream and Coffee Tea & Co., both in Old City.

They concede that the past 18 months of construction for improvements to Market Street were often tough on business, especially the coffee shop, because of fencing that had to be erected.

Now, with the $16 million renovation of Market Street complete, and the fencing gone, Joseph said it was worth it.

“It looks much better now,” Joseph said.

Philadelphia officials unveiled the new look Tuesday in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The transformation permanently narrowed vehicular traffic, added bike lanes, and built a new public plaza.

“As you can see, walking around the neighborhood is greatly improved,” said Job Itzkowitz, executive director of the Old City District, a business improvement organization.

Itzkowitz noted more open space for pedestrians, shorter distances to cross the street, and new street trees and planters, among other improvements.

“Residents, visitors, and business owners alike have already felt the impact as the fences started to come down over the last few months,” he said.

Officials launched the overhaul in December 2024 to rebuild the corridor from Second to Sixth Streets and transform the historic stretch into a more inviting place to walk, bike, and dine.

The work was to timed for the Semiquincentennial, which marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Several other nearby landmarks have also been spruced up, such as Elfreth’s Alley, which recently unveiled a new pocket park, and the long-shuttered First Bank of the United States, set to reopen to the public on July 1 after a $27 million renovation.

As part of Market Street’s “road diet,” vehicles have been reduced to one lane in each direction, clearing way for protected bike lanes and adding dedicated left turn lanes at key intersections.

Among other improvements:

Officials say the transformation will reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths and better serve tourists, walkers, cyclists, transit users and motorists.

The project was initiated a decade ago by Itzkowitz and the Old City District. It was managed by the city’s Department of Streets and Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS). The work was done by Deptford-based C. Abbonizio Contractors.

Also taking a lead was the nonprofit Independence Historical Trust as part of a larger plan to create better ways for tourists to navigate on foot through Independence National Historical Park, Old City, and other historic or local neighborhoods.

“The new plaza rocks,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.

Parker said the just-completed project fits in with broader efforts to extend improvements on Market Street from City Hall to the Delaware River.

Bill Marrazzo, chair of the nonprofit Independence Historical Trust, called completion of the Market Street project key given its location in Old City and near Independence National Historical Park.

“No other American city has as many cultural assets per capita as we do here in the city of Philadelphia,” Marrazzo said, “and a very high percentage of those are organized here within this one square mile of history.”

“These improvements are truly transformational,” noted Mike Carroll, the city’s deputy managing director for transportation and infrastructure.