San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the city's Municipal Transportation Agency have decided to close a lengthy section of Market Street next week to private traffic as part of a motivated effort to inhibit congestion, according to the SFMTA.

Starting Sept. 29, private auto traffic traveling east on Market Street will be prohibited beginning at Sixth Street. Eastbound traffic will be encouraged to turn right at 10th Street and will be required to turn right at Eighth Street. Cars that get onto Market Street from Seventh Street will be forced off at Sixth Street.

However, westbound traffic will be able to flow freely, as will cars traveling north and south across Market Street; eastbound traffic accounts for most of the congestion along the thoroughfare, according to Judson True, spokesman for the SFMTA.

Signs are currently in place to warn drivers of the new change, which will last six weeks as part of a pilot program. The street will not fully be closed, as Muni buses, delivery vehicles, and taxis will be able to gain access past Sixth Street.

The mayor's office and SFMTA will also be examining the effects the closure will have on businesses along Market Street, according to mayor spokesperson Nathan Ballard.

After the trial period ends, the street closure will be evaluated by the mayor and the SFMTA to see if the city wants to expand or make the closure permanent, according to True.

This latest action on Market Street is nothing new, as city Supervisor Chris Daly pushed for a full closure of the street between Octavia Boulevard and the Embarcadero last year.