to take action to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion.
Regional Transportation News
Infrastructure improvements benefit us in the long-run, but many times, construction can cause delays and impede your ability to get around. Keep up to date on the latest transportation news, and you can better plan your commute – or plan no commute at all.
The Georgia Department of Transportation is charged with maintaining and improving many of our roads and bridges. Current projects underway include:
- Traveling to or through Midtown: GDOT has released an updated project schedule for the replacement of the 14th Street Bridge. The new schedule will allow the department to reduce the amount of time residents, employees, and visitors will be affected by construction activity.
- October 1, 2007 - Williams street between 10th Street and 16th Street will be reduced to one lane until June 2009. Motorists will be encouraged to bypass Williams Street at 10th street by using West Peachtree Street. Midtown Transportation Solutions will launch a web site, www.14thStreetBridge.com that will act as a resource center for commuters and employers. This site will provide information on lane closures, detour routes, commute alternatives, and solutions for employers. Find out more about this improvement and detour information.
- March 2008 - Techwood Drive will be closed to traffic between 16th and 10th Streets. The roadway is expected to reopen by September 2009. DOT crews will begin resurfacing the Downtown Connector between University Avenue and 10th Street. During construction, interstate lane closures will occur at night - Monday through Thursday from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. - with continuous closures on weekends starting Friday night and concluding Monday morning.
- Fall 2008 - The 14th Street Bridge will be closed to traffic and will not reopen until summer 2010. Motorists will be detoured to the 17th Street Bridge during this period.
- I-285 Top End: Revive 285 top end is an initiative by the Georgia Department of Transportation in conjunction with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to develop a comprehensive transportation concept for the top end of I-285 between I-75 and I-85.
- More: Interstate and state road improvements are available online.
In addition to construction to existing roadways, there are a variety of new and exciting projects being discussed across the region. Proposed projects range from the return of streetcars to the addition of High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. Keep informed and get involved:
- The Beltline proposes to combine greenspace, trails, transit and new development along 22 miles of historic rail segments that encircle the Atlanta urban core.
- Atlanta Streetcar, Inc. is a nonprofit dedicated to returning streetcars to Peachtree Street. The proposed line will run along the Peachtree corridor from Buckhead to downtown.
- The Georgia Brain Train focuses on bringing commuter rail to the northeast metro Atlanta region, including a proposal to connect Athens through Oconee, Barrow, Gwinnett and DeKalb Counties to Midtown and downtown Atlanta.
- High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes may be introduced on northbound I-85, as part of a federal Urban Partnership Agreement.
- Emory University has introduced Destination Emory, an interactive tool that enables students and employees access to the array of transportation choices available.
Bookmark this page and come back often for updates on transportation across the region. Check with your local transportation management association (TMA) for specific information related to where you work.