Market Square is getting a face-lift

Driving the news: Yearlong construction on the north section of the Market Square revamp began Tuesday.

• Fencing will surround most of Market Square, but businesses will remain open and accessible to pedestrians.
• Forbes Avenue and the south half of the road circling the square will remain open to one-way vehicular traffic through the first phase of construction.

Zoom in: A steel and glass trellis, complete with lights, will anchor the square to better host events like farmers markets and holiday gatherings.

• The southern half of the square closer to PPG Place will be open to pedestrians only.
• Retractable bollards will allow officials to close the northern section to vehicle traffic as needed.
• The revamp will cost between $14-16 million, according to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

Zoom out: Market Square attracts about 3.1 million visitors a year, according to the partnership.

State of play: The revamp is part of a $600 million investment in Downtown, meant to convert office buildings into residential units, as well as spruce up Point State Park and create Arts Landing, a new park and civic space in the Cultural District.

What's next: Construction of the north half of the square should be completed by fall, said officials.

• Then construction on the south half will begin.
• It's all slated to be completed in April 2026.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say Market Square attracts 3.1 million visitors a year (not 300,000).