YOUNGSTOWN - A busy street in downtown Youngstown is scheduled to close for major construction work for the next four months.

The work is a part of the SMART 2 project that's redesigning nearly all of downtown. The project is working to improve pedestrian and bicycle traffic, for  transit shuttles and transit waiting areas, incorporating green infrastructure, and streetscaping while  connecting downtown to business, YSU and to the hospitals.

But while the project may be crucial to the future of the city, several businesses are concerned about how it will affect them right now.

"I worry that we're going to lose some businesses throughout all this." Joey Mamounis, a manager at the Avalon Downtown Pizzeria, located on W. Federal Street said. 

Parts of W. Federal St. from Symphony Place to Hazel St. closed Monday. Another section, from Hazel St. to Phelps St., will close in July and remain closed for about four months. 

Mamounis said many businesses downtown are struggling to get customers in the door as it is.

"All these businesses just got out of COVID and we're trying to battle for customers to come back right now and here's just yet another obstacle," he said.

Chuck Shasho from the city of Youngstown tells 21 News the sidewalks will still be open for foot traffic and he is planning a meeting with all of the businesses to address their concerns on Wednesday of this week.