Memphis Front Street closes July 8–Dec. 1 (Union–Monroe) for streetscape work

Starting Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Front Street in downtown Memphis will be closed between Union Avenue and Monroe Avenue through December 1 as crews begin the first phase of a Front Street improvement project, according to the City of Memphis notice.

The project is designed around pedestrian-safety upgrades. Action News 5 (WMC) reports the work will include ADA-accessible curb ramps and curb bump-outs, along with sidewalk enhancements and added landscaping. Drivers should also expect reduced capacity as the work progresses.

What’s changing on Front Street

According to Action News 5, the corridor will be affected for months as the project proceeds, and the report says Front Street will be reduced from four lanes to three as pedestrian-area work and streetscape improvements are installed.

Biggest schedule windows by intersection

The construction is staged in phases tied to specific downtown intersections. Here are the phase windows reported by Action News 5:

• Riverside Drive/Monroe Avenue intersection: July 13–September 18
• Front Street/Monroe Avenue intersection: July 23–September 25
• Front Street/Union Avenue intersection: September 26–November 4

During each window, the heaviest impacts are most likely to be concentrated near the named intersection as crews move to the next location.

Plan your commute and trips downtown

For residents and anyone who commutes through downtown, the most practical step is to plan alternate routes and expect changing conditions near Front Street during construction.

Pedestrians and people who rely on accessible routes should also be ready for temporary changes to how sidewalks and curb crossings are used as curb ramp and bump-out work is installed. Watching for posted signage and following temporary walk paths can help avoid last-minute detours.

Where to check updates

Downtown Memphis Commission maintains a page listing current and upcoming road closures, construction activity, and traffic alerts throughout Downtown Memphis. As the Front Street work moves through its phases, checking that page can help you coordinate around overlapping street impacts and event-related changes.

With the Front Street closure starting July 8 and running through December 1, many commuters will notice the most concentrated intersection disruptions during the mid-July through late-November phase windows.

Sources

• City of Memphis notice: Front Street closure between Union and Monroe (streetscape improvements)
• Action News 5 (WMC): Front Street closure details for repairs/streetscape
• Downtown Memphis Commission: Downtown Road Closures & Traffic Alerts