Portland won’t close iconic Old Port street to traffic this summer
While some side streets in the Old Port will again be closed to support outdoor dining and shopping, Exchange Street will remain open to traffic.
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Portland plans to close some Old Port streets to vehicle traffic again this summer, but Exchange Street will remain open.
The barricades last year allowed some businesses to expand outdoor seating or shopping into the empty street, so customers could avoid coming indoors and practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some businesses, especially restaurants, took advantage of that option. Others, particularly retailers, said their foot traffic dropped. The city reopened the streets when the temperatures dropped in November but allowed outdoor dining to continue.