Construction crews have kicked off work on the long‑planned South Boulevard Safe Street project, and a quiet design tweak from city planners is giving Grant Park drivers something extra: new curbside parking. The redesign adds roughly 17 public parking stalls between Atlanta Avenue and United Avenue, slotted between protected bike lanes and moving traffic so the spaces double as a buffer for cyclists and pedestrians. The $9.1 million overhaul will rebuild about 2.4 miles of Boulevard and link the BeltLine's Southside Trail, Zoo Atlanta and Grant Park into a single, safer route.
Design change puts parking next to protected lanes
As reported by Urbanize Atlanta, Atlanta Department of Transportation officials told Grant Park leadership that earlier plans without curbside parking were revised "to reflect community feedback." Finalized drawings show the roughly 17 stalls tucked between the protected bike lanes and vehicle lanes. An ATLDOT email obtained by the outlet described the new layout as "safe and compliant with city standards and best practices."
What the city plans to build
The City of Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) lists the South Boulevard project budget at about $9.14 million and shows construction began in late June with an anticipated completion in June 2027. ATLDOT project materials outline resurfacing, lane‑geometry adjustments, new protected bike infrastructure with bollards, sidewalk and ADA ramp work, and signal upgrades along the corridor.
Neighbors pressed for a compromise
Neighbors and local advocates have been trying to split the difference for years, with reporting showing the push for a compromise stretching back to 2017. As community groups and Propel ATL note, advocates have argued for safer, multi‑modal infrastructure while residents pressed to keep some curbside spots to support park visits and nearby businesses.
Construction impacts and timeline
In a July project update the city says concrete sidewalk work is already well underway in parts of the corridor. Most construction activity is scheduled for weekdays in daytime hours, with intermittent one‑ or two‑lane closures and traffic pattern shifts, but no full detours. ATLDOT notes that protected‑bike installation will follow resurfacing and advises residents to expect periodic lane shifts and temporary traffic impacts through the project's summer‑2027 closeout. The agency has posted maps and schedule notes for affected blocks in a City of Atlanta update.
