By Brent Huff
The South Moreland Ave Working Group (SMAWG) held their regular meeting with the Georgia DOT and Atlanta DOT on May 11. The meeting included many updates for ongoing projects and future improvements to Moreland Avenue.
The repaving project is ahead of schedule. They have finished road repairs, which are easy to spot from the patches you see along Moreland. The repaving of side street entryways is also mostly completed. GDOT expects the lane repaving to be completed by late May or early June. Once repaving is complete, re-striping will begin. Work is being conducted overnight on Sundays through Thursdays.
After two years of discussion across GDOT, ATLDOT, and SMAWG, we have a commitment for a new crosswalk over Moreland Avenue connecting the Ormewood Park Neighborhood to Brownwood Park. It will be placed between Woodland Avenue and Emerson Street. This crosswalk is a big win and validates the time and effort of all involved. GDOT will place concrete medianettes at the midpoint of the crosswalk to create a safety island to protect pedestrians. SMAWG is continuing to work with ATLDOT on other locations for additional crosswalks.
GDOT will be installing Speed Limit Feedback signs this summer along Moreland Ave to help remind drivers when they exceed the posted speed limit. The Atlanta Police Department has agreed to work alongside GDOT with enhanced enforcement through the corridor.
The long-anticipated Glenwood/Moreland alignment project has been delayed again due to a drainage issue. This setback could push the completion of the project until the fall.
The 1-20/Moreland Ave interchange project is expected to be put out for contract in February of 2023. This is a very complicated project which is expected to eliminate the “Moreland northbound to I-20 westbound” loop.
The United/Skyhaven/Moreland alignment project has been funded. It is in the design phase now and expected to be put out for contract in the fall of 2024.
SMAWG submitted a letter to GDOT describing their support for eliminating right-turn deceleration lanes from future Moreland Avenue projects. These lanes promote high speed entry into developments and put pedestrians in crosswalks at risk.
