Downtown Pensacola’s Iconic Palafox Street is set to reopen to pedestrians just in time for Memorial Day weekend as crews wrap up the major phase of the city’s $10.7 million New Palafox Project. City officials plan to celebrate the reopening with a ribbon-cutting event for local businesses on May 22, ahead of the project’s early completion target of May 24.

The improvements along Palafox are designed to make the downtown corridor more attractive, walkable, and accessible. Updates include wider sidewalks, added landscaping and shade trees, brick-style intersections, upgraded pedestrian safety features, and a much-needed modernization of the stormwater drainage system.

Mayor D.C. Reeves shared that Palafox Street will remain pedestrian-only through May 31 before reopening to vehicle traffic. After that, contractors will shift their focus to paving and completing nearby side streets connected to the project.

Over the next several weeks, construction activity will continue around Romana, Intendencia, Zaragoza, and Government streets as crews finalize surrounding improvements. The city expects the entire project to be completed by the end of June, with a larger public dedication planned for early July.

The redesign of Palafox came after Florida Power & Light completed a major downtown electrical infrastructure project that left sections of the roadway patched and uneven. Since the streets already needed restoration work, city leaders saw an opportunity to go beyond simple resurfacing and invest in a long-term upgrade for one of Pensacola’s most visited downtown destinations.

The project also addresses accessibility concerns and drainage issues that had not been updated in decades. Outdoor dining has become increasingly popular along Palafox, but in some areas sidewalks had become difficult to navigate, especially for those needing ADA access.

Some of the project highlights include:
• 46 ADA-accessible curb ramps
• 8 upgraded handicap parking spaces
• Shorter and safer crosswalks
• 52 new trees and expanded landscaping
• More than 90,000 gallons of stormwater storage capacity
• Over 1,700 feet of new stormwater piping
• More permeable surfaces to improve drainage and reduce runoff

The refreshed Palafox Street is expected to further strengthen downtown Pensacola’s appeal for residents, visitors, restaurants, and small businesses alike as the city heads into the busy summer season.