While thousands will be streaming into Wean Park this weekend, there's ongoing construction in the downtown area.

It may make driving a little tricky this weekend but in the long term, it'll change the face of downtown for the better.

Phelps street north of Federal was finished up last year and made into a pedestrian walkway filled with different eateries.
South of there, Phelps will allow for one way car traffic and expanded sidewalks for pedestrians and a bike lane. Parking will no longer be allowed on that street.

"Right now we're focusing on the end towards the amphitheater and trying to keep the traffic maintained for the traffic there. The utility work will begin on the other two blocks and at some point we'll have that intersection closed at Boardman Street once everything else is buttoned up," said Chuck Shasho, Deputy Director of Public Works, Youngstown.

Phelps is expected to be completed in the fall.

Near YSU, Wick Avenue was completely remade a couple years ago. Now Fifth Avenue is currently getting a major redesign to accommodate more student foot traffic.

"It will be more collegial, more pedestrian friendly. We pray it's that way on the 5th Avenue side because we have so many students that live on the west side of 5th," said YSU President, Jim Tressel.

5th should be open to car traffic by late August.

It's all part of the Smart 2 project which will use autonomous shuttles to link YSU to downtown and Mercy Health.

Next year, Front Street will get the same kind of redesign as 5th avenue. Only one car lane in each direction with a turning lane and a bike lane.

Then the year after that, Federal street gets the makeover. All these major projects are expected to be completed by 2023.