Vision, funding plan for people bridge over I-85 come to light

A “transformative” bridge project designed to open up access to ITP Atlanta’s growing system of multimodal trails and more took a key step forward this week, according to project officials. 

The City of Brookhaven has reached a deal with Emory University that puts in place necessary framework for building what’s called the Peachtree Creek Greenway Connector Bridge across Interstate 85, a pedestrian and bicycle project spanning one of Atlanta’s busiest freeways. 

The statement bridge project—preliminary designs call for an arch structure and gateway branding for Brookhaven—will create a direct connection between Brookhaven’s Peachtree Creek Greenway, over I-85, to Emory University’s live-work-play Executive Park district, where a growth spurt is planned in coming years. 

Emory agreed this week to contribute $15.8 million to the bridge project over the next 10 years. The remainder of funding will be sourced through “a combination of private investment, economic development mechanisms, and partner contributions” established in the new agreement, according to Brookhaven officials.  

Emory’s contributions will allow Brookhaven to move forward with the bridge’s final design and construction process. 

The goal is to better link the Buford Highway corridor and second phase of the Peachtree Creek Greenway system (and by extension, the Atlanta Beltline and PATH400) with one of metro Atlanta’s largest employers and healthcare centers, in addition to DeKalb County’s broader Trails and Greenways Network.

The agreement with Emory ensures that no residential property taxes will be used to fund the bridge project’s design or construction, per Brookhaven officials. 

Required easements for the bridge project were donated by Emory in 2019 and more recently by Asbury Automotive Group. 

“Together with the City of Brookhaven, [Emory], and our public and private partners,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson in a statement, “we are creating infrastructure that connects people to jobs, healthcare, recreation, and one another while strengthening our regional transportation network for generations to come.”

According to Brookhaven officials, a finalized bridge design is scheduled to be finished in late 2027. The city expects to break ground on the bridge in 2028. (Find additional images of the bridge project on this Brookhaven-focused Substack page.)

Meanwhile, Peachtree Creek Greenway’s 1.1-mile second phase is expected to break ground this year and finish construction in roughly two years. It will bring the trail system down to the Atlanta City Line, closer to the Beltline and the Southfork Conservancy trail system.

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