Several blocks of Penn Avenue between Evaline Street and North Graham Street will undergo a major infrastructure makeover starting Monday.Phase 2 of the Streetscape Project will create new sidewalks, traffic lights, ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other safety features.However, the project will mandate lane closures, detours, and eliminate street parking, a necessary process that makes business owners very nervous. “Biggest fear is that people will stop coming as frequently because of the inconvenience,” said Hailey Phillips, an employee at Open Road Non-Alcoholic Beverages.Aerin Adams-Fuchs, who owns The Soft Spot Coffee Shop, said those sentiments are shared by many business owners. “There’s still a general sense of unease in the community. ‘Do I want to travel to Penn? I heard there’s construction down there.'”Business owners hope to retain customers by communicating frequently about the progression of construction and the status of parking, a plan to be implemented by Third Space Bakery.”We will do our best to still reach out and bring those new customers in, and also let our older customers know through social media, through our website, what the expectability is looking like at any given time,” said co-owner Chloe Newman.Construction for the Penn Avenue Phase 2 Streetscape Project is expected to run until the fall of 2027.

PITTSBURGH —

Several blocks of Penn Avenue between Evaline Street and North Graham Street will undergo a major infrastructure makeover starting Monday.

Phase 2 of the Streetscape Project will create new sidewalks, traffic lights, ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other safety features.

However, the project will mandate lane closures, detours, and eliminate street parking, a necessary process that makes business owners very nervous.

“Biggest fear is that people will stop coming as frequently because of the inconvenience,” said Hailey Phillips, an employee at Open Road Non-Alcoholic Beverages.

Aerin Adams-Fuchs, who owns The Soft Spot Coffee Shop, said those sentiments are shared by many business owners.

“There’s still a general sense of unease in the community. ‘Do I want to travel to Penn? I heard there’s construction down there.'”

Business owners hope to retain customers by communicating frequently about the progression of construction and the status of parking, a plan to be implemented by Third Space Bakery.

“We will do our best to still reach out and bring those new customers in, and also let our older customers know through social media, through our website, what the expectability is looking like at any given time,” said co-owner Chloe Newman.

Construction for the Penn Avenue Phase 2 Streetscape Project is expected to run until the fall of 2027.