Where Midtown's tandem Complete Street projects stand now

Should construction schedules pan out, Midtown could see a pair of Complete Street projects working in tandem to usher non-drivers across the district in protected new lanes by the end of 2026.

That’s the word this week from Midtown Alliance officials, who provided Urbanize Atlanta an update on where Complete Street initiatives on both Juniper Street and Piedmont Avenue stand as a new year unfolds.

Both years in the making, the multimodal changes to key Midtown arteries have drawn criticism from some business owners (and excitable Atlanta media members) who feel the Juniper Street project has snarled traffic in parts of Midtown to untenable levels. Alternate transportation enthusiasts, meanwhile, have applauded the street makeovers, despite years of delays prior to construction.

Midtown Alliance spokesperson Brian Carr said once both Complete Street projects are finished, they’ll work together as north-south routes to address “safety gaps for people on foot, on bikes, and in cars,” while also “formalizing on-street parking and loading areas,” Carr wrote via email.

On Juniper Street alone, across the five years before construction started, data show 620 crashes were logged involving a combination of motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, according to Carr.

The two Complete Street projects will add a combined two miles of protected facilities for bicyclists and scooter riders, stretching for two dozen blocks.

A “before and after” version of Piedmont Avenue at 6th Street as depicted in the Midtown Transportation Plan.Midtown Alliance

Project leaders announced in November the Juniper Street project had reached “substantial completion,” but that doesn’t mean it’s fully open or operational now. Why not?

Midtown Alliance’s construction team is still awaiting service connections from Georgia Power that will provide new traffic signals with electricity along Juniper Street. Without that, bike lanes must remain closed, per Midtown Alliance.

“The timetable for this [Georgia Power] work remains fluid, and our staff is in regular communication with Georgia Power contacts,” wrote Carr. “To ensure coordination and safety between motorists and cyclists at signalized intersections, these signals must be in service before the bike lane can open.”

Once they’re operational, the new signals will undergo a mandatory step required by the city—a 30-day “burn-in” period—to ensure they function properly. When that’s finished, legacy infrastructure including old poles and signals will be removed, per Carr.

The people-friendly Juniper Street remake extends for 12 blocks across Midtown, stretching from 14th Street down to Ponce de Leon Avenue. Construction began in summer 2023 and was initially considered a 20-month job. But progress slowed at times as construction crews grappled with numerous delays related to everything from utilities to filming permits that had taken priority, requiring work to pause for blocks at a time.

The changes have implemented a one-way, southbound cycletrack that starts at 14th Street near Colony Square and travels down to Ponce. Vehicle lanes have been reduced to two, and dedicated parallel parking has been installed within a new buffer lane in places. Other additions include bioswales, LED lighting, and street furniture.

One block east, construction began last year on a 1.1-mile system of northbound bike lanes that will similarly update Piedmont Avenue, stretching from Ponce de Leon Avenue up to 15th Street at Piedmont Park.

That’s a distance of roughly 12 blocks.

Full scope of the under-construction Piedmont Avenue Complete Street project in Midtown. Midtown Alliance

Midtown Alliance’s work alongside the Atlanta Department of Transportation on Piedmont Avenue remains on schedule, according to Carr. Hitting a delivery window at the end of 2026 is the goal, barring any unforeseen delays.

This week, according to Midtown Alliance’s most recent update, work on Piedmont Avenue is focused on blocks between 5th and 10th streets, including: gutter and curb demolition; sidewalk, driveway, and curb installation; and storm line installation.

Below is a closer look at what to expect with the Piedmont Avenue Complete Street project, beginning at the southern end and working a dozen blocks north to the western edge of Piedmont Park:

Lord Aeck Sargent; via Midtown Alliance