Center City Philadelphia roads to close for snow removal

Crews will work to clear snow around City Hall on Tuesday evening

Jan. 27, 2026 at 4:15pm

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The City of Philadelphia is shutting down several key roads in Center City on Tuesday afternoon to allow crews to clear snow and ice from the area around City Hall. The closure will be in effect from 4 p.m. until midnight as excavators and loaders work to remove the accumulated snow.

Why it matters

This snow removal operation is part of the city's broader efforts to clear streets and make them passable after a major winter storm over the past weekend. The closures around City Hall will impact traffic and commutes in the heart of downtown Philadelphia.

The details

The streets that will be closed include Penn Square around City Hall, North Broad from Arch to City Hall, South Broad from Chestnut to City Hall, 15th Street from Arch to Chestnut, JFK Boulevard from Filbert to 16th, and both East and West Market Streets near City Hall. City officials say dozens of vehicles will be involved in the snow lifting operation.

  • The road closures will be in effect from 4 p.m. until midnight on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

The players

Philadelphia Streets Department

The city agency responsible for maintaining and clearing Philadelphia's streets.

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What’s next

Residents are urged to avoid the area and find alternate routes if possible during the closure. The Streets Department will continue snow removal operations in other neighborhoods across the city in the coming days.

The takeaway

This snow removal effort is a necessary step to restore mobility and access in Center City Philadelphia after the recent winter storm, though it will cause temporary disruptions to traffic and commutes in the area.