A newly installed raised two-way cycle track now runs along 14th Street in Midtown and Home Park, creating a protected 1.1-mile corridor between Barnes Street and Northside Drive. As part of the project, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) narrowed most of the roadway from four lanes to two, added left-turn pockets at intersections, and dropped in concrete buffers and wheel stops to separate people on bikes from motor traffic.
Photos released with the rollout highlight the raised concrete barrier and a buffered lane on the north side of 14th Street that now links Midtown’s business core with West Midtown’s Interlock district. The project also installs Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at crossings and shifts the bikeway away from driveways and curb cuts to cut down on conflict points, according to Urbanize Atlanta. The outlet’s block-by-block gallery shows early users already trying out the new setup.
Local cycling advocates have been quick to applaud the rollout, while some drivers say the slimmer roadway has made rush-hour traffic feel tighter. Rebecca Serna, executive director of Propel ATL, told Atlanta News First that “having that dedicated space... helps keep them from being hit by cars.” BikeFriendlyATL has also praised the facility for giving riders a safer connection between Georgia Tech, Home Park, and Midtown.
GDOT describes the work as part of a roughly $4 million resurfacing and lane-reconfiguration program across the city and says it sought public feedback during planning. As reported by WABE, the agency has argued that trimming lanes and adding a two-way bike track will lower vehicle speeds and improve safety for people walking and biking along the corridor.
GDOT planning documents show the 1.1-mile segment previously averaged about two pedestrian crashes and one bicyclist crash per year, plus 16 left-turn collisions. The same analysis estimates that the new configuration could cut overall crashes on the stretch by nearly half. Looking ahead, those materials also call for extending safety upgrades east to Howell Mill Road, with medians and mid-block pedestrian crossings to be phased in through 2028.
What This Means For Riders And Drivers
For cyclists, the revamped 14th Street helps stitch together protected segments and wide sidewalks into a clearer east-west spine across the Connector. For drivers, the tradeoff is narrower through lanes and adjusted turning patterns during peak hours. A new photo tour from Urbanize Atlanta shows the concrete buffers and flashing beacons now in place, while crews are expected to stick around to finish final striping, signage, and signal work. Transportation staff say they will watch crash and traffic data on the corridor before deciding on any further tweaks.
