Downtown drivers got a jolt this week as construction crews began tearing up the intersection in front of Lowell City Hall, kicking off a multi-year push to make the core of the city friendlier to people on foot and on the bus. The work is being staged so nearby shops and offices can stay open, and crews will pause during the Lowell Folk Festival later this summer so the annual crowds are not dodging backhoes.
What crews will do
According to the city, the project includes rebuilding full sidewalks and granite curbs, installing new ADA-accessible ramps and crossings, upgrading drainage and underground utilities, and milling and overlaying sections of pavement. As outlined on the City Hall Project 2026 page, the work is broken into phases to limit disruption and is scheduled to run through late October 2026.
Transit upgrades and safety tech
The downtown construction is the street-level piece of the city's GoLowell complete streets effort, with a particular focus on improving the bus stop at Merrimack Street and City Hall. The GoLowell plan calls for raised bike lanes, solar-powered pedestrian crossing beacons, rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFBs), two new bus shelters, and a package of lighting, landscaping and street furnishings aimed at making crossings more visible and waiting areas more comfortable.
Cost and who’s paying
Local reporting pegs the City Hall intersection overhaul at roughly $2 million and notes that the work is funded in part by the Lowell Regional Transit Authority and federal transit dollars. That same coverage also points to a separate MassDOT grant worth nearly $5 million for related intersection redesign projects downtown. For those funding details, see the reporting from Lowell Sun.
What drivers and businesses will see
Residents can expect daytime lane shifts, temporary sidewalk detours and restricted on-street parking wherever crews are active. The city says parking will be limited between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, but that access to City Hall and nearby businesses will be maintained. Night work and steel road plates are planned where crews have to trench for utilities, and the schedule is set up so that not all sidewalks in the area are closed at once.
Why this matters
City planners are pitching the project as a concrete step toward safer, more reliable transit and a more bikeable downtown. Shorter, clearer crossing routes, more visible beacons and improved bus stops are intended to cut pedestrian risk and speed up boarding. Officials also hope that upgraded sidewalks, fresh curbs and a tidier streetscape will make Merrimack Street feel more walkable and inviting for shoppers, office workers and commuters.
The city is sharing regular construction updates about phasing and short-term impacts on its construction page and through Lowell 311. Anyone worried about driveway access or changing parking rules is being urged to contact City Hall directly for specifics.
