Critical changes are coming to downtown Atlanta’s dangerous 10th Street Bridge

ATLANTA – Major improvements are underway on Midtown Atlanta’s 10th Street Bridge.

This is a well-known phenomenon for pedestrians and cyclists who must be very careful with cars entering and exiting the highway.

“There were many times I almost got hit trying to cross,” said Cooper Voigt, who lives in the Home Park neighborhood and uses a bicycle to get around.

He said that area of ​​Midtown was particularly dangerous, with cars flying on and off the connecting ramps.

“Whether it’s a car fighting for position in traffic trying to get onto the highway or just not paying attention,” he said.

The bridge is now being renovated to make it more user-friendly.

“It’s a very important connection point for the heart of Midtown,” said Kevin Green, director of the nonprofit Midtown Alliance. “The bridge carries over 35,000 people a day and functions as a freeway on an off-ramp.”

The $20 million project will add protected bike lanes to the bridge, with buffer zones between humans and automobiles.

Downtown 10th Street Bridge

“Targeted signal improvements will provide pedestrians and cyclists with their own signal to cross traffic,” Green said. “Fencing and lighting have been upgraded.”

The Midtown Alliance, the city and a grant from the Federal Highway Administration will cover the project costs.

“This is what Atlanta needs,” Voigt said. “We have a huge traffic problem where driving is really painful and an inefficient way to get around.”

This differs from plans to cover the Downtown Connector with a park called “The Stitch.”

This would happen further south – and in a long time.

But it’s all part of a broader effort to make Atlanta more walkable and connected.

Since 2018, 49 new buildings have been erected in Midtown alone, according to the Midtown Alliance.

There are 21 more under construction or in the planning stages, the organization said.

City officials say the project will take 20 months to complete.

They are waiting for some final approvals before starting work.

The work is expected to be completed in early 2026, in time for the World Cup.