Peters Street bridge replacement could close route for 3 years

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A proposed replacement of the Peters Street bridge near Ted Turner Drive could close the route for three years, raising concerns among residents who rely on it to reach work, businesses and medical care.

The Georgia Department of Transportation says the 90-year-old bridge is in poor condition, with visible rust, and is below design standards. Parts of the bridge are also fracture critical, meaning the failure of certain components could cause a portion or all of the structure to collapse. GDOT estimates the replacement would cost nearly $70 million and take three years.

Residents discuss potential closure

Sharon Marshall, who has lived in Castleberry Hill since 1994, walks across the bridge to reach her MARTA station and get to work. She said a closure would require her to use a different station.

“It would mess up a lot things that I do, but I understand the need for it,” Marshall said.

Ignatius Wallace, who lives in southwest Atlanta, said he drives across the bridge three or four times a week to get to the VA. He said the bridge has damaged his car and he wants the work completed quickly.

“It’s a main artery to Downtown from Southwest Atlanta,” Wallace said.

Concerns about businesses and traffic

Residents raised concerns at a GDOT open house at Antioch Baptist Church.

“I own businesses so Peters Street is the main business corridor for Castleberry Hill so Peters Street is going to be very impacted from that type of closure,” Castleberry Hill resident Alison Cross said.

Cross and neighbor Rebecca Bily said the bridge needs to be replaced, but traffic near Mercedes-Benz Stadium is already a concern. Bily said residents have been discussing the bridge with GDOT for a decade.

“We want it to happen, so we don’t want to make it seem like we’re anti-bridge, we just want to make sure that we’re getting the best product under the best possible circumstances in the shortest amount of time,” Cross said.

The project is still in the design phase. Residents said they want the granite curbs and hexagonal sidewalks preserved as it moves forward. GDOT will review feedback from the open house, and the project could advance to right-of-way acquisition if no major changes are proposed.