The Old Town Farmers’ Market is officially relocating this weekend in advance of construction on City Hall and Market Square.
The Saturday morning market is moving across the street from Market Square to the 100 block of N. Royal Street before construction is set to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Parking tomorrow will be available free of charge at the Courthouse Square garage at 111 S. Pitt Street, and the Market Square garage will remain open, Alexandria Director of General Services Jeremy McPike said at a preconstruction meeting last night (Thursday).
“Please, if you’re joining, all the vendors need your support,” McPike said. “They’re concerned and worried as they transition from sites … They’ve been here for decades. They’ve been a part of a lot of your family stories. Please continue to encourage your friends and families to come out and help the farmers’ market.”
Starting Jan. 20, crews will work on the construction site from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, and “some Saturday and Sunday work may be required,” according to a city presentation.
Sidewalk and street parking closures are expected around the site’s perimeter at N. Fairfax, N. Royal and Cameron streets.
The team plans to minimize disruptions on King Street when possible, Grunley Project Executive Jonathon Tackett said.
“You still have access and accessibility on King Street sidewalk for the majority of the project,” Tackett said. “There are shorter phases that will be necessary to close it, and we’ll communicate that through proper signage.”
Construction will also lead to some bus stop alterations. The site’s DASH bus stops for routes 30, 31 and 34 will combine into a single stop on King Street that will also service the King Street Trolley.
“We’ll be combining those two bus stops to the one you see here on the screen, on King Street,” Tackett said. “This will be the primary configuration, again, for the duration of the project.”
The Market Square Capital Bikeshare on King Street will also be relocated to nearby Royal Street, according to the presentation.
Crews plan to park in the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s garage. Trucks and other large vehicles on the project’s haul route intend to travel off of Interstate 495 and across King, Fairfax, Cameron and Washington streets.
Looking ahead this winter, crews will begin cutting and capping City Hall’s mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems. Barriers and construction fencing are expected to go up toward the end of January or early February.
In “early Q2,” drill rigs are planned to join the site to install steel piles to allow for demolition of the site’s existing underground garage.
Construction is expected to wrap in summer 2028.
