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Walnut Street facelift frustrates businesses, drivers but should be worth aggravation when done

PITTSBURGH — Detour signs, fences and heavy equipment line Walnut Street for a project area businesses say is a nuisance and a headache for drivers.

The $429,000 facelift will get rid of overhead wiring and utility poles between South Aiken Avenue and South Negley Avenue. Thirty new decorative poles and LED light fixtures are also part of the project. The street will be repaved too.

“It’s really just tearing Walnut apart. But it’s not that bad. They have to do it,” said Mike Croneberger, a bartender at Cappy’s Cafe. “After the pandemic and everything, it’s not having a positive impact when the springtime is coming. We have sidewalk seating and that’s hurting us.”

The project is being done in five phases in an attempt to minimize the impact on parking and businesses.

People in the area said the upside to all of the noise, dust, fencing and heavy equipment is that there will be new pipes and better lighting.