Improving Pedestrian Safety: Major Revamp of 10th Street and Monroe Drive Intersection in Atlanta

Improving Pedestrian Safety: The 10th Street and Monroe Drive Intersection Undergoes Major Makeover in Atlanta

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For the past three months, the Atlanta BeltLine and Atlanta Department of Transportation have been hard at work transforming the intersection at 10th Street and Monroe Drive. This bustling crossroad, situated near Midtown, first saw construction crews roll in back in June. The goal? To better connect the BeltLine across the street and make the route safer for pedestrians.

One of the project’s most significant steps forward is the creation of a raised intersection. Kimberley Wilson, a local parent and the BeltLine’s vice president of design and construction, explained the benefits. “The entire intersection is going to be raised,” she said. “That makes the trail users and pedestrians crossing more visible to cars. It also slows cars down when they approach the intersection because you have to go up. It’s like a huge speed bump.”

Additionally, new pedestrian signals are set to make crossing safer and more orderly for those coming off the trail. Alongside these improvements, the project includes adding more crosswalks. One will connect the BeltLine across Monroe Drive, and another will be dedicated solely for cyclists to get to the bike lane along 10th Street. Wilson clarified, “There will actually be three connections. We’ll have a dedicated crosswalk connecting the current BeltLine trail to the new BeltLine trail, a crosswalk for pedestrians to cross from the BeltLine to the corner of 10th, and a bike lane crosswalk on 10th Street.”

The construction also features the removal of a left-turning lane on 10th Street, which, although it might inconvenience some drivers, aims to reduce the number of traffic lanes pedestrians need to cross, thus boosting safety.

Understandably, some drivers have expressed frustration about the changes, especially with the raised intersection. Jason Slaven, a history teacher who navigates this area daily by car, empathized with the affected drivers but highlighted the project’s safety goals. “It might be inconvenient,” he noted, “but it is accomplishing the goal of forcing drivers to slow down and be more aware of their surroundings.”

Wilson couldn’t agree more. She believes that pedestrian safety should take precedence, especially in an area so close to Piedmont Park, the BeltLine, and Midtown. “The volume of pedestrians at this intersection probably surpasses the volume at almost any other intersection in the city,” she emphasized.

Meghan Injaychock, Senior Project Manager for the BeltLine, shared her perspective on the long-standing relationship between the BeltLine and Midtown/Grady students. “There’s quite a storied tradition of Midtown High students using the BeltLine to get to school,” she shared, reminiscing about students who would walk along the railroad tracks even before the BeltLine was officially developed. Injaychock is particularly excited about how this project offers students a safer, more convenient route to school.

One student, Junior Jakob de Roode, who bikes to school daily, mentioned that while he hasn’t noticed many changes yet, he anticipates the new dedicated crosswalk for bikers will make his commute less chaotic. “I think the new crosswalk for bikers will keep it less busy,” he predicted.

To ensure safety during construction, crossing guards from the Atlanta BeltLine Path Force, a special unit within the Atlanta Police Department, have been assisting students during school arrival and dismissal times.

Slaven also highlighted the broader trend towards improved pedestrian safety in the city, citing recent bans on right turns on red lights as another example of this shift. “They’re making more moves to emphasize pedestrian safety,” he said.

The BeltLine team expects to wrap up most of the construction by October 1st. Injaychock acknowledged the current inconvenience but assured that the project’s completion is near. “We hope to have the sidewalks around the intersection complete by the end of the month,” she said. “Our goal is to have the final asphalt cap on the top of the intersection by October 1st.”

For Injaychock and her team, this project is the culmination of years of hard work. Not only will the revamped intersection enhance pedestrian safety, but it also helps realize the BeltLine’s vision of creating a continuous loop around the city.

“It’s going to be a huge win for us to connect this across 10th and Monroe,” she concluded. “We just appreciate everyone’s patience as we try to make it better.”