As fall classes and full football schedules return, an extensive infrastructure project through Georgia Tech is hitting its stride, with a goal of building a pedestrian and bicycling route between Midtown and the western fringes of campus with links to other pathways.

The Ferst Drive Realignment and Cycle Track is part of nearly 2.5 miles of new bicycle infrastructure that’s going in across campus—an effort to maintain Georgia Tech’s status as a Gold-level Bicycle Friendly University, as determined by the League of American Bicyclists.

Construction on the cycle track kicked off in December; as a recent tour on two wheels proved, just under a mile of the roadway is under construction today, with more to come.

On the western side of campus, construction starts today near Georgia Tech’s Exhibition Hall and Campus Recreation Center. Its ends, for now, on Ferst Drive at Fowler Street, about two blocks from the Fifth Street Plaza park built over the downtown Connector.  

Milling and paving work is ongoing across the cycle track route, which remains closed to the public.

A stretch of bike lanes separated by median buffers. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

An approximation of the Ferst Drive areas under construction now (at left), and a detailed look at the phase three realignment and PATH connection that began construction in July. Google Maps; Georgia Tech

Clearly, the Ferst Drive cycle track will provide a safer and smoother east-west connection across the city, especially when linked with other people-friendly infrastructure projects. The goal, according to Georgia Tech, is to “provide improved bicycle infrastructure and allow for separation between bikes, pedestrians, and vehicles” along the key corridor. Exactly how the safe the cycle track will be—with permanent concrete barriers, curbs, and other measures—remains to be seen.

Phase 3 began construction in July toward the western side of campus.

That includes a realignment of Ferst Drive at Regents Drive, which project leaders say will allow for a traffic signal to be removed at the intersection. That’s also where the cycle track will link with the award-winning PATH Parkway project that connects downtown to shops, restaurants, and hundreds of residences in the Marietta Street and Howell Mill Road corridors.

Where the cycle track approaches Georgia Tech's sustainable Kendeda "Living" Building, at left. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Phase 4 of the project will link it to the aforementioned Fifth Street Plaza over the Connector—and just east of there, to the planned 5th Street Complete Street that will extend across Midtown.

According to Midtown Alliance,  the 5th Street Complete Street project is under construction in blocks near Peachtree Street but has yet to make its way to the side of the subdistrict near Georgia Tech.  

The entire Ferst Drive project is scheduled to be completed in early 2025, according to Georgia Tech.

Concrete separation measures between vehicle and bike lanes near State Street. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

For a quick tour of where Ferst Drive improvements stand today, starting on the western side of campus and heading toward the heart of Midtown, pedal up to the gallery above.  

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