Brand-new Midtown street almost ready for public access

In the works for a decade, a strategic street extension near some of Midtown’s densest blocks is days away from completion.

Midtown Alliance reports the 15th Street extension project, which has been taking shape since early 2024 around two busy north-south traffic corridors, should wrap construction and open for public access by the end of August.

Doing so will mark an “extremely rare” example of a new street connection within “an established street grid in a dense urban setting,” notes the organization. The properties in question were formerly two empty lots.

The new east-west connection has potential to be a “gamechanger” for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, according to Midtown Alliance, in that it will create a multimodal, people-friendly, two-block link from the Arts Center MARTA station to Williams Street, near the downtown Connector.

Looking south, recent construction and plantings progress at the 15th Street extension near the downtown Connector. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

Coming soon are three new lanes of public roadway between West Peachtree and Spring streets, including two left-turn lanes at both of those one-way streets. West of that, expect a single through-lane in each direction, connecting to Williams Street.

Other features will include five-foot-wide bicycle lanes at sidewalk level in each direction, another five-foot zone dedicated to trees and street furniture, and 10-foot sidewalks on both sides of the street. The bike lanes are designed to directly connect with the Arts Center MARTA station, recent residential and hotel developments, and other bike routes in the district (both existing and planned), per Midtown Alliance.

In its previous state, 15th Street dead-ended at West Peachtree Street, next to the AMLI Arts Center and Hanover Midtown apartment towers. That restricted access to the transit hub for sections of Spring Street, where hundreds of new residences have delivered in recent years at buildings such as Mira at Midtown Union.

The proposed look of two new blocks of 15th Street, looking west toward Atlantic Station from West Peachtree Street. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

Recent work has included Georgia Department of Transportation’s final signal inspection on 15th Street in late July and roadway striping. Green bike lane markings are expected to be installed the week of Aug. 17, per Midtown Alliance.

According to the Atlanta Department of Transportation, initial planning efforts for the 15th Street extension date back to November 2016. After receiving a grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission, city and GDOT officials began work to design the project in summer 2017. Following a delay, construction kicked off in the first quarter of 2024.

The full two-block extension has consumed GDOT right-of-way. That eliminated the costs of acquiring real estate, project officials have said.

More than $6 million was secured to build the project, with about half of that coming from GDOT and federal coffers. Midtown Improvement District funds and City of Atlanta impact fees have covered the bulk of remaining costs.

Below is a closer look at what's coming—and where:

A section of the project showing 15th Street's new functionality. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance/Jacobs