Images: People-friendly redo of major Midtown street begins soon Josh Green Mon, 10/07/2024 - 08:08 When it comes to Midtown’s efforts to create more people-friendly streets around the growing subdistrict, it’s shaping up to be a busy fall season.
Following a planning, design, and permitting process that stretched across more than six years, the Spring Street Improvements Project is expected to be under construction in coming weeks in Midtown’s northern blocks nearest to Buckhead, according to Midtown Alliance officials.
A contract for the Spring Street bicycle and pedestrian upgrades was awarded to low-bidder Hasbun Construction in August. That company is being issued a Notice to Proceed with construction today, per Midtown Alliance.
South view of proposed Spring Street changes near the Buford Spring Connector, as shown prior to the development of SCAD student housing at right. Midtown Alliance
The scope of the project calls for remaking one southbound lane on Spring Street—also known as Ga. Highway 9, and U.S. Highway 19—between Peachtree Street and 17th Street. Three southbound travel lanes will remain open for vehicles.
According to project leaders, wider sidewalks, “bicycle facilities,” ADA upgrades, pedestrian lighting, and street trees will be installed along the half-mile of Spring Street in question. Renderings and drawings depict a protected bike lane built in the westernmost lane.
The major Midtown corridor is within three blocks of MARTA’s Arts Center station and is dotted with hubs of activity such as SCAD’s campus. Destinations such as the Center for Puppetry Arts and new Emmi high-rise apartment tower are also situated along the route.
According to Midtown Alliance, the Spring Street project’s goal is to improve mobility, safety, and access for all users, linking with planned Complete Street changes on 17th Street and a broader network of pedestrian and bicycle improvements that has yet to materialize.
It’s been a long road toward groundbreaking for the Spring Street changes.
Design, engineering, and public engagement led by Kimley-Horn began back in early 2018. An extensive traffic study wrapped the following year. The City of Atlanta gave the project its final approval in 2022, and the Georgia Department of Transportation issued a permit in November. Midtown Alliance received construction bids for the project in February.
A typical Spring Street section in question today. Midtown Alliance
Changes bound for the corridor as part of the Spring Street Improvements Project. Midtown Alliance
The Spring Street project is being funded by Federal Transit Administration grants, in addition to funding from Midtown Improvement District and the City of Atlanta.
Construction is expected to last for 12 months, ending in fall 2025.
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10th Street Bridge update
In related news, Midtown Alliance also reports the 10th Street Bridge project is set to go under construction in coming weeks, after the selected contractor, F.S. Scarbrough, was issued a Notice to Proceed on Tuesday.
Spanning the Connector, the bridge will be converted to a Complete Street between Georgia Tech’s eastern campus and the heart of Midtown, according to project leaders.
Atlanta Department of Transportation officials say the bridge conversion will create a “safe, beautiful, multimodal gateway” into Midtown, with bicycle lane connections, landscaping, lighting, decorative fencing, and safer intersection treatments, among other changes.
Looking east at the 10th Street Bridge into the heart of Midtown today. Google Maps
Current condition of the 10th Street Bridge (top) and planned multimodal changes. Kimley-Horn
Kimley-Horn engineering drawings show a cycle-track installed on the south side of the bridge, between a striped shoulder and upgraded sidewalk.
That project’s 20-month construction schedule calls for finishing in 2026.
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10th Street 10th Street Bridge Midtown Alliance Alta Kimley-Horn Kimley-Horn & Associates Alternate Transportation Alternative Transportation Atlanta Bridges Atlanta Bike Lanes Bike Lanes GDOT Georgia Department of Transportation Midtown Improvement District F.S. Scarbrough Cycle Track Spring Street Spring Street Construction Spring Street Complete Street Complete Streets Hasbun Construction Spring Street Improvements Project Buford Spring Connector SCAD Savannah College of Art and Design
Images
South view of proposed Spring Street changes near the Buford Spring Connector, as shown prior to the development of SCAD student housing at right. Midtown Alliance
A typical Spring Street section in question today. Midtown Alliance
Changes bound for the corridor as part of the Spring Street Improvements Project. Midtown Alliance
Subtitle 10th Street Bridge overhaul also on horizon, district leaders report
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