North Royal Street to close Nov. 10-13 for City Hall project
Old Town thoroughfare will be shut down Nov. 10-13 for testing ahead of renovation project
North Royal Street between Cameron and King streets will be closed to all traffic for three days next week as the city conducts investigation and testing work for the City Hall and Market Square renovation project.
The closure begins at 7 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, and runs through 7 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 13. Motorists will be detoured to North Pitt and North Fairfax streets, with detour signs posted.
After the closure, North Royal Street will reopen with shifted lanes and no parking from Nov. 13-20. Drivers should expect delays.
The work is required for the safety of drivers, construction workers and pedestrians as preliminary testing begins on the renovation, according to the city. The testing likely relates to structural issues with Market Square Garage beneath the plaza, which city documents say needs “significant structural repairs.”
Project nearing construction phase
The street closures come as the renovation project moves through its final approvals. The Board of Architectural Review is scheduled to consider alterations to City Hall and 108 North Fairfax St. at its meeting on Wednesday, part of a certificate of appropriateness and demolition review process.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and take approximately two years.
City Hall, built in 1871, houses more than 300 city employees. The renovation will repair aging building components, improve operating systems and accessibility, enhance security, and facilitate community engagement. The project also includes Market Square Plaza andthe replacement of the below-grade parking garage.