Now
46
Fri
48
Sat
45
by Joel Moreno, KOMO News Reporter
TOPICS:
SEATTLE — Major improvements in Seattle's Pioneer Square will likely showcase the neighborhood once the World Cup comes to Seattle in 2026, but getting there has been incredibly tough on business owners.
Four months of construction left many shops and restaurants struggling to attract customers, and they said the city did nothing to help them ease through the transition period. Even more concerning is that road work and other projects will start back up next week and could last for an additional month.
RELATED: Sports world set to watch how Seattle handles major event like MLB All-Star Week
Most of the major construction on the Pioneer Square East-West Pedestrian Improvements project wrapped up in December, but there is additional work to be done. Crews will install additional bollards, landscaping, and lighting, and roadways are expected to remain open while this work is completed.
The construction has focused on portions of King, Main, and Washington streets, Yesler Way, and 2nd Avenue S.
ALSO SEE: Lumen Field to host 6 matches in 2025 Club World Cup, FIFA president confirms
The overall goal is to prioritize pedestrians, improve sidewalks, and enhance the greenery in the neighborhood. The changes come at the cost of reduced vehicle access with fewer travel lanes and on-street parking spaces. The improvements include nine new raised pedestrian crossings, four new blocks of curbless streets, and 13,400 square feet of new planted areas.
Although the work was done in phases, in an attempt to minimize impacts to neighbors and businesses in practice, restaurant and shop owners said it has been a difficult time for them and their customers.
