According to Juan Velasquez of CW Matthews, construction of the pedestrian bridge is scheduled to begin on January 6, 2020. They are aiming for a mid-August completion. The pedestrian bridge will only serve as a UTILITY bridge until the completion of the entire project, which is still expected to be August 2021. Only at that point in time will the pedestrian bridge be accessible for pedestrian use. This bridge will be constructed first, as it is required to carry the utilities over the creek
When the construction begins on January 6, there will be traffic impacts. There will be more single lane closures on Northside from 9am-4pm. Woodward Way will not be closed but there will be impacts. We hope to get more details on lane closures, etc. soon.
When the pedestrian bridge is complete, the 36" water line will be moved from the west side of Woodward Way over to the east side to tie into the project and this will take approximately two weeks to complete. While this work is going on, 2 lanes of traffic on Northside will be closed to traffic.
The construction of the new pump station is scheduled to begin on February 3, 2020. When this work begins, Woodward Way will be closed for 9-10 months. It was emphasized to the Ruby Collins representatives that any detour signage must be clear. We told them that the past detour signs routing people down lower Alton were not only confusing but dangerous, as cars were speeding down Alton.
The new striping plan for the intersection of Woodward Way, Sagamore and Northside was requested so that we can see what this intersection will look like upon full completion of projects.
The pump station design was a concern after visuals were presented at the NPU-C meeting in October 2019. Since then, the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has worked to find a more attractive barrier/wall for the pump station. New visuals were presented at this stakeholder meeting and everyone thought it was much more suitable. They are also working on landscaping and tree planting options that will further soften the appearance of the pump station. Catherine Spillman (Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy) said that she would be happy to work with them to find good native options DWM is also looking into putting a graffiti-resistant application on any solid surface around the station.
This email is designed to provide information on the upcoming SR 3/US 41/ Northside Drive at Peachtree Creek Bridge Replacement project, scheduled for construction in 2020.
The existing bridge was built in 1926, has a low sufficiency rating (41.2 out of 100) and must be replaced. When complete, this project will provide new bridge approaches on Northside and a new bridge over Peachtree Creek. The new bridge will have two 10-foot lanes, a 10-foot left turn lane, a 2-foot shoulder, 4-foot bike lane, a 5-foot sidewalk on the western side from Wesley Drive to the bridge, and a 5-foot shoulder on the eastern side. A 15-foot pedestrian bridge will be constructed next to the new bridge on the road’s eastern side, to connect to the existing multi-use paths in Atlanta Memorial Park and Bobby Jones Golf Course to the Peachtree Creek Trail. This construction will require installation of a traffic detour in 2020, which many of you have learned from the project public involvement efforts.
This correspondence is to provide you advance notice that significant utility relocations must occur in the area this spring to avoid work delays and compounded traffic impacts for next year’s bridge construction. Within the next two weeks, lane closures will be installed on Northside Drive to allow Georgia Power, several other utilities and the City of Atlanta Dept. of Public Works (tentatively) to relocate their underground facilities in the project area. These lane closures will help keep workers and drivers safe, provide space for large equipment on-site and allow optimum work hours.
Phase 1 – mid-March to end of March. Weather permitting, vegetation clearing will begin on Monday, March 11 to remove trees that overhang the existing Peachtree Creek bridge that would obstruct construction of the two new bridges to be built next year. The clearing activities and related single lane closure will last for about 14 days in the northbound lane of Northside Drive in the area before the bridge to the end of the project.
Phase 2 – end of March through Memorial Day. Following the clearing, Georgia Power will lead off the cascade of utility relocations beginning late March. Because of the large equipment needed for the work, crews will close the northbound lane and one turn lane on Northside in the project area until Memorial Day. Flaggers and signage will guide drivers through these closures. Georgia Power also suggests that a temporary detour may be needed for a few days to reach the power pole on the northeast side of Sagamore Drive and Woodward Way, because their large, heavy equipment can’t sit safely on the bridge culvert.
During both phases, lane closures would be in place weekdays from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., but a weekend work schedule is still under consideration if needed to complete this work on-time.
GDOT will provide regular updates on the closures. We encourage you to share this information with your constituents and visitors. Please alert them to allow extra travel time as they drive through the lane closures within and around the project area.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you in advance for your patience!
Tori A. Brown
District 7 Communications Specialist
Metro Atlanta Office
770.216.3813 Office
tobrown@dot.ga.gov
A loose alliance of the following organizations was formed for the purpose of dealing with issues relating to the closing of Northside Drive in connection with the replacement of the bridge over Peachtree Creek. The following organizations comprise that alliance Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy, Ardmore Park Civic Association, Brandon Civic Association, Castlewood Civic Association, Channing Valley Civic Association, Collier Hills Civic Association, Collier Hills North Civic Association, Habersham Park Civic Association, Memorial Park Civic Association, Peachtree Battle Alliance, Peachtree Heights West Civic Association, Springlake Civic Association, Wesley Battle Civic Association and Wildwood Civic Association.
A meeting of this alliance was held at the home of Sadler Poe at 6:00 PM on January 23, 2019. The following persons attended: Erin Bailey (Springlake), David Gylfe (Collier Hills), Michelle Hatch (Channing Valley), Elenor Klingler (Castlewood), Nolan Leake (Peachtree Heights West), Roger Moister & Susan Moody (Collier Hills North), Whitney Paulowsky (Brandon), Claire Stroud (Ardmore Park), Reggie Williamson (Habersham Park), Garth Peters (Memorial Park) and Sadler Poe (Peachtree Battle).
Current goals include identifying intersections that can be improved with left-turn signals and extended left-turn lanes, work with USPS, FedEx, UPS, City of Atlanta Office of Solid Waste Services to limit pick up and deliveries during peak traffic periods. Sadler is also trying to arrange meetings with the City’s traffic committee and identify a representative from our neighborhood to attend the meetings of the City’s Traffic Committee, chaired by Andre Dickens. Another suggestion is to reach out to the at-large council members: Andre Dickins, Michael Julian Bond and Matt Westmoreland.
This webpage is intended to have the most up-to-date information available at all times. There will be a link on our homepage, directing you to the bridge updates, when work on the bridge begins.
If you are interested in being a part of this important subcommittee, please click HERE.
Currently GDOT is not willing to allow for a barrier between the southbound traffic lane of Northside Drive and the pedestrian sidewalk on the west side of the new bridge. Sadler Poe and Catherine Spillman (Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy) have scheduled a meeting with GDOT's project manager to discuss the issue, and will pursue a solution with state and local elected officials.
GDOT now says that construction of the bridge and the resulting closure of Northside will start in the summer of 2020. The latest communication from GDOT says the bridge will be constructed on a 24/7 basis, and there is no longer a contingency for their being able to find a contractor that will do the work within their budget.
PBA has been working with AMPC and four other affected civic associations on some remaining details. For example, we have all requested that GDOT install some sort of railing between the traffic and the sidewalk on the bridge. We have also asked that construction start after Memorial Day in 2020 so that the closure/detours will not begin until after the end of the school year.
To maximize our chances of success, we have enlisted the aid of State Senators Jen Jordan and Nikema Williams and Representative Beth Beskin. Senators Jordan and Williams are working with Stacey Key, the GDOT commissioner who represents our district. Representative Beskin is working directly with GDOT staff. We are very grateful to all three for their assistance. Who says bipartisanship is dead! If you see them, please let them know how much you appreciate their efforts on our behalf.
According to a GDOT official, about 225 people attended the open house. Over 72 written comments were received and about 10 given to the court reporter.
GDOT may be able to reduce the time of closure to 90 days or less if work proceeds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Approval to do this is based on 1) consent from the City and 2) GDOT being able to secure a 24/7 contract that is within budget. PBA is doing everything possible to help facilitate this effort. When you send in your comments, we encourage you to tell GDOT you want to fast track the project.
GDOT is aware of the concern over the lack of barrier/protection for pedestrian traffic on the west side, 5' sidewalk on the bridge - feel free to mention this concern in your comments.
GDOT is reviewing all comments received.
