The Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID) has received a financial boost from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program has awarded $10 million toward the construction of an elevated pedestrian and bicycle bridge in the heart of Buckhead. The bridge is significant component of a broader initiative to make Buckhead’s commercial and shopping district more pedestrian- and bike-friendly, known as the Lenox Road Complete Safe Street project.
The proposed bridge will span Lenox Road at the intersection with Ga 400. The bridge will link with the growing PATH400 greenway that runs nearby, and eventually connect to the planned HUB400 park. The design aims to enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility in this high-traffic area.
This bridge is the third phase of the Lenox Road Complete Safe Street project, which seeks to transform 1.25 miles of the corridor into a more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly route from the Lenox MARTA station to Piedmont Road.
Another key phase of the project, the Lenox Boardwalk, is set to begin construction in mid-September after delays.
The entire bridge project, expected to cost $40 million, will be built in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the City of Atlanta. Construction is now slated to begin in October 2025, with completion projected for January 2028. According to Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID) officials, the bridge will allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross both Highway 400 and Lenox Road without interacting with vehicle traffic. Additional federal funding has also been secured through the Atlanta Regional Commission.
In a September press release, Jim Durrett, BCID executive director, emphasized the importance of the $10 million grant in transforming the Lenox Road area, “The Safe Streets and Roads for All funding is essential to help us transform this section of Lenox Road and provide safe, easy access for pedestrians and cyclists to reach the Buckhead and Lenox MARTA stations and many other locations in the Buckhead core.”
BCID chairman Thad Ellis noted the challenges of making such a heavily trafficked intersection safe for non-motorists, and added, “The Lenox Road Complete Safe Street project is an exciting step forward in the CID’s ongoing work to create a more connected Buckhead.”