Bailgate, which connects the city’s cathedral and the Roman Newport Arch, was paved in 2010, but some of the Yorkstone flags need repairing or replacing.
Lincolnshire County Council said the £1.7m improvements would strengthen the road and protect it for the next 20 years.
The free parking sessions will be available exclusively to customers using the PayByPhone app.
The council said the offer was designed to support regular customers who would normally make use of the free one-hour on-street parking to make short visits to local shops and businesses.
Nicola Collins, parking services manager at City of Lincoln Council, said: “We’ve worked closely with Lincolnshire County Council to support uphill businesses during these important Bailgate improvements.
“Offering free one-hour parking sessions at St Paul’s Lane and Westgate 1 car parks throughout February will help ensure customers can continue to access local shops easily while the works are taking place.”
The work is due to take about three months. Footpaths and car parks will remain open and sections of the road will be closed in stages.
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