Kingston drivers, take note: Summer 2026 is construction season, and the city is making up for lost time.

From the Broadway repaving project stretching from Stockade Drive to Clinton Avenue to the long-awaited Complete Streets redesign, the city is spending millions to fix roads, widen sidewalks, and install dedicated bike lanes across the core corridors that connect the Rondout, Uptown, and the Midtown district.

If you've been wondering why Broadway looks like an obstacle course between Clinton and North Front, or why traffic on Washington Avenue feels heavier, here's your guide to what's happening, when it'll end, and why all the jackhammers matter.

Broadway from Start to Finish

The Broadway repaving project is the biggest item on the list. The city secured funding to mill and repave the full length of Broadway through the commercial district — roughly 1.5 miles from the Rondout up to Clinton Avenue.

The work is broken into phases so businesses stay accessible. The city has emphasized that all shops and restaurants remain open during construction, but parking may shift week to week.

Phase 1 wrapped up in late June (from Stockade Drive to North Front Street). Phase 2, from North Front to Clinton, started in July and is expected to continue through August. Phase 3, from Clinton up to Washington Avenue, will follow in September.

Expect single-lane closures, temporary no-parking zones, and occasional overnight work. The city has asked residents to follow the "Road Work" signs rather than GPS — Waze loves to send drivers down streets that are currently trenches.

Complete Streets: More Than Just Paving

The repaving is the visible part. The bigger project is the city's Complete Streets initiative, which aims to redesign Broadway, Clinton, and Washington Avenue to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists alongside cars.

What that means in practice: wider sidewalks, raised crosswalks at key intersections (including the dangerous crossing at Broadway and Clinton), protected bike lanes, and new street lighting.

The project was approved by the Common Council in late 2025 after years of community input sessions. The state-funded design phase is complete, and construction is slated for 2027 and 2028 — starting with the Washington Avenue corridor first.

For now, the groundwork is happening alongside the Broadway repaving: utility relocations, drainage improvements, and sidewalk prep work.

NYRI's Power Upgrade

While the city handles the roads, National Grid (formerly NYSEG) is doing its own infrastructure overhaul. The utility provider is upgrading underground power lines along Washington Avenue and Mary's Avenue, replacing decades-old cables with modern, more resilient systems.

That's why you've seen crews digging up sections of side streets and parking lots in the residential area near Mary's. The work is expected to continue through the fall.

The city and the utility have coordinated their schedules to avoid duplicating work, but some overlap is inevitable. Residents on Washington and Mary's should expect intermittent lane restrictions through September.

The $4.6M Community Center Push

Off the main roads, the city is investing $4.6 million in renovations to community facilities across the Mid-Hudson region, with Kingston home to several of the projects.

The funds, awarded through the state's BRICKS program, support upgrades to recreation centers, senior service locations, and youth programming spaces. City officials have said the goal is to modernize spaces that have seen little investment in decades.

Work includes HVAC upgrades, accessibility improvements, and energy efficiency retrofits. Several of the centers will receive full renovations that are expected to be complete by early 2027.

Why This Matters Now

Kingston hasn't seen a summer of construction this intense since the 1960s, when the city undertook the "Kingston Urban Renewal" project that reshaped parts of the Rondout. The difference this time: the city is listening to residents, keeping businesses open, and aiming to make the infrastructure work for everyone — cars, bikes, and pedestrians.

The detours are frustrating. The jackhammering at 7 a.m. is worse. But when the dust clears, Kingston's core streets will look and function differently than they have in half a century.

If you live near Broadway, Washington, or Clinton: check the city's weekly roadwork updates (posted Friday afternoons on the city website) and plan your routes accordingly. Download the city's newsletter if you haven't — it's the fastest way to get construction notices before they hit your street.