Emory University’s plan to bankroll a $15.8 million pedestrian and bike bridge over Interstate 85 just took a big step forward. DeKalb County and the City of Brookhaven have signed a funding agreement that moves the project into its final design phase. The future span is set to link Emory’s Executive Park campus directly to the Peachtree Creek Greenway, giving people on foot or bike a safer connection to PATH400, the Atlanta BeltLine and nearby medical and office hubs. Officials currently expect design work to wrap up in late 2027, with construction targeted to start in 2028.
The three-way funding agreement between DeKalb County, the City of Brookhaven and Emory University has been approved, according to WSB-TV. DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson called the bridge "an important connection to DeKalb County’s growing Trails and Greenways Network while expanding access to employment centers, healthcare services and recreational amenities," the station reported.
Design Details And Where It Will Cross
The City of Brookhaven’s project page explains that the bridge will feature a 14-foot-wide multiuse path that ties into a stair and elevator plaza on Peachtree Creek Greenway Phase II, plus an ADA-compliant ramp connecting to Executive Park South. The city also notes that Michael Baker International has been selected to handle engineering and design work, and that coordination with GDOT and hydraulic studies are underway as the team advances into the final design stage, the City of Brookhaven says.
Who Pays And When It Gets Built
Emory has pledged $15.8 million toward the connector over the next decade, and officials say residential property tax revenues will not be tapped for the bridge’s design or construction, according to WSB-TV. Federal transportation money is also part of the mix: the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Transportation Improvement Program lists federal and local funding set aside to complete Phase II of the Peachtree Creek Greenway, which in turn supports the connector’s broader links to PATH400 and the BeltLine. Atlanta Regional Commission documentation details the Phase II entries and associated commitments.
Why This Bridge Matters For The I-85 Corridor
Emory’s master plan for Executive Park focuses on adding new sidewalks and about a half-mile of multi-use trail to boost walkability and connections to transit, and the university says it is working with neighboring health campuses on those upgrades. Emory University and local officials view the bridge as one piece of a broader strategy to draw more life sciences and medical investment along the I-85 and North Druid Hills corridor, a development pattern highlighted by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
For now, the project is shifting into a formal final-design phase while GDOT permitting and coordination continue. The city expects to roll out public outreach and design updates through 2027, ahead of a competitive bid process for construction. Project partners say they plan to share timelines and community engagement opportunities as key milestones are hit; in the meantime, the freshly approved funding agreement lets the design team push ahead with more detailed plans and updated cost estimates, as outlined on the City of Brookhaven’s project page.
