Scranton Completed Lackawanna Avenue Streetscape Project

The $2.2 million renovation restored a historic retaining wall and improved downtown pedestrian safety.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Home Renovation

Screen-print poster illustration featuring a period lamppost, paved sidewalk, and stone wall, representing the Lackawanna Avenue urban improvement project. — Scranton has officially finished a $2.2 million streetscape improvement project on Lackawanna Avenue, enhancing pedestrian safety and restoring historic infrastructure. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Scranton has officially finished a $2.2 million streetscape improvement project along Lackawanna Avenue. The initiative focused on modernizing infrastructure and enhancing walkability for residents and visitors.

Why it matters

The project serves to align public infrastructure investment with private development while improving traffic safety at a nexus handling 10,000 vehicles daily. By upgrading sidewalks and restoring historic structures, the city seeks to bolster its downtown appeal.

The $2.2 million project included restoring a 15-foot-tall, 120-year-old railroad retaining wall and filling old vaults under sidewalks. This effort is part of a broader $20.4 million downtown streetscape investment program.

The players

Scranton City Council

This is the municipal legislative body that approved the streetscape plans and adopted the necessary ordinances in 2025.

The details

Construction crews replaced disjointed sidewalk gaps with continuous concrete paths and installed new curbs and period lampposts. The project also included the relocation of a bus stop on the 600 block of Lackawanna Avenue to better serve the downtown corridor.

The original retaining wall was constructed in 1908.
A connectivity and walkability study was completed in 2023.
Construction work began in the summer of 2025.
City council adopted ordinances for the changes in October 2025.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

Culture Shift

This development reflects the ongoing trend of municipalities prioritizing pedestrian-centric urban design to stimulate downtown growth. It follows the recommendations established by the 2023 Scranton connectivity and walkability study.

Residents and downtown commuters should anticipate smoother travel due to new sidewalks and better-organized bus stops. The shift from traffic lights to stop signs in select areas will require drivers to adjust their daily navigation routines soon.

The takeaway

Investment in historic infrastructure like the 120-year-old retaining wall demonstrates how cities can preserve character while upgrading for modern safety needs. These improvements suggest a long-term strategy to increase downtown foot traffic through consistent design standards.

What happens next

The city plans to finalize traffic changes, including replacing specific traffic lights with stop signs, and has scheduled the completion of all remaining downtown streetscape projects for spring 2027.