Johnson City Will Reassemble Square Deal Arch

Work on the historic arch will begin in Johnson City on October 8, 2026, forcing local traffic detours.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A large stone and steel arch structure undergoing restoration in a quiet city street, surrounded by steel scaffolding. — Crews will begin reassembling the historic Square Deal Arch in Johnson City on October 8, 2026, necessitating traffic detours on Main Street. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Crews will begin the process of reassembling the Square Deal Arch on Johnson City's Main Street on October 8, 2026. The restoration requires significant traffic detours while the structure is rebuilt.

Why it matters

The project transitioned from in-place repair to a full disassembly and reconstruction after the structure was found to be in worse condition than initially believed. The work preserves a piece of history originally dedicated by the Endicott Johnson Shoe Company in 1920.

The reassembly process is expected to take two weeks to complete. Local traffic on Main Street will face detours for approximately one month during the restoration period.

The players

Lupini Construction

This is a construction firm based in Utica that is currently overseeing the restoration and reassembly of the arch.

Endicott Johnson Shoe Company

This is the historical shoe manufacturer whose workers built the original arch structure in the early 20th century.

The details

Lupini Construction, which began the restoration effort in April 2024, will manage the reassembly after components were prepared off-site. The arch structure, originally built by Endicott Johnson Shoe Company workers in 1919, was dismantled to allow for repairs that could not be performed while the piece remained standing.

Original construction began in April 1919.
The arch was dedicated on Labor Day 1920.
Lupini Construction began site work in April 2024.
Arch pieces will ship to Johnson City on October 6, 2026.
Main Street traffic detours begin on October 8, 2026.

Market Landscape

The restoration of this iconic landmark follows a pattern set by the 1920 Square Deal Arch dedication as the community works to preserve its industrial heritage. This effort represents a significant public investment in local historical assets compared to typical routine maintenance.

Residents and commuters should prepare for traffic congestion on Main Street starting October 8. The month-long detour will require local drivers to adjust their daily routes until the reassembly project concludes.

The takeaway

Preserving historic industrial landmarks often requires more extensive and costly interventions than original site assessments suggest. Residents should factor in potential travel delays on Main Street while this piece of local history is carefully restored.