Images: Delayed Midtown street makeover officially happening

Josh Green

Fri, 12/20/2024 – 12:51

Construction is clearly ramping up on the people-friendly makeover of a Midtown street that will help create a safer crosstown route and connections to other bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects.

The 5th Street Complete Street will span about ½ mile from Williams Street near the Connector in Tech Square to Myrtle Street in Midtown’s residential Garden District.

Before hitting snags, the $3-million project was once expected to break ground in 2022 and open last year.

This week, construction crews left no doubt the 5th Street makeover has reached blocks nearest to Georgia Tech. Street resurfacing is underway, cycle track lanes are taking shape, and ADA pavers, a raised pedestrian walkway, and a bus stop ramp are being installed.

Resurfacing work this week on the 5th Street overhaul, facing Georgia Tech from Spring Street. Submitted photo/Nathan Davenport

Rendering of a planned 5th Street Complete Street makeover. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

According to Midtown Alliance, 5th Street is already one of Atlanta’s most popular multimodal thoroughfares. Planned upgrades call for infill street trees to protect bike lanes, upgraded ADA ramps and crosswalks, better lighting, a new traffic signal at Williams Street, and a full repaving and re-striping of the street.

Added bonus: The 5th Street project will cross both the Juniper Street (southbound) and Piedmont Avenue (northbound) Complete Street projects in the pipeline in other parts of Midtown, creating a much broader network of multimodal connectivity in the district.

The 5th Street upgrades will also be at the doorstep of Tech Square’s third phase, a mixed-use high-rise that’s climbing between Spring and West Peachtree streets now.

No work on 5th Street is expected to take place over a Christmas break next week, per Midtown Alliance.

Scope of the 5th Street work (No. 9) that Midtown Alliance lists as being under construction now. Midtown Alliance

Submitted photo/Nathan Davenport

Painted bike lanes and other work along 5th Street began earlier this year as part of the infrastructure project. Midtown Alliance has estimated the project will take 16 months to complete, meaning it should be fully wrapped by next summer.

Midtown Alliance awarded the project’s construction contract to low-bidder Hasbun Construction in November last year.

Funding for the project came from a Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank/SRTA state grant, City of Atlanta TSPLOST 1.0 coffers, and Midtown Improvement District funds.

Submitted photo/Nathan Davenport