Residents and commuters will soon have a chance to weigh in on controversial plans to transform Peachtree Road between Pharr Road to Deering Road by adding a center turn lane and, along one portion, a bicycle-only lane.
There is no formal presentation, but visitors can attend the open house to get information from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Thursday at the Shepard Center, 2020 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
GDOT plans to add a two-way left turn lane from Pharr Road to Deering Road.
Along the southern section of that corridor, a dedicated bike lane also would extend from Deering Road to Peachtree Battle Avenue.
Two-way left turn lanes can help reduce the amount of rear-end and side swipe crashes. The proposed dedicated bike lanes can also increase safety for motorists, bikers, and pedestrians, according to GDOT.
While bicyclists have mostly embraced the proposal, the plan has been met with resistance from some concerned motorists and neighborhood residents because it involves subtracting a lane of travel in each direction in order to squeeze in the bicycle-only lane and center turn lane between Deering and Peachtree Battle. Along the rest of the corridor, only one northbound lane of travel would have to be subtracted to make way for the center turn lane.
Credit: Andria Brooks
Credit: Andria Brooks
Credit: Andria Brooks
Credit: Andria Brooks
The state is following the rest of the country in shifting its policies toward a "Complete Streets" mentality. That is, making sure that roads work not just for drivers but for walkers and bicyclers as well.
The project is considered a much-needed safety improvement. Between 2009 and 2013, over 800 vehicle crashes occurred on Peachtree Road in Midtown and Buckhead, which is higher than other comparable routes.
Residents who cannot attend can view the project and submit comments online. From the menu, select the county where the proposed project is located; select SR 9/US 19 Safety and Operational Improvements. Click Comment and follow instructions to leave a comment. Comments can also be emailed to peachtreeproject@dot.ga.gov.
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