Midtown Atlanta crosswalks get colorful treatment to show year-round pride

A prominent intersection at the eastern edge of Midtown, near Piedmont Park, is now the most colorful roadway in Atlanta—permanently.

Crews have put the finishing touches on rainbow crosswalks at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 10th Street—the heart of Midtown’s vibrant LGBTQ community.

Work went on throughout the weekend to prep the four crosswalks before the Monday morning commute. The installation is two years in the making.

Back in 2015, rainbow crosswalks were added to the intersection as a temporary installation to mark Pride celebrations that year. But soon after their removal, a group of activists rolled out a petition to lobby the city to make the feature permanent.

After more than 20,000 signatures, the vision is becoming reality.

According to WSB-TV, Mayor Kasim Reed called the permanent installation “fitting” for the intersection as recognition of the area’s history. He also noted that the move could mark a precedent for embracing the unique qualities in Atlanta’s many vibrant neighborhoods.

And while the brightly colored crosswalks won’t do anything to alleviate traffic, they could at least brighten the day of those who traverse the intersection.

• Busy intersection closes as Atlanta installs rainbow crosswalks this weekend [WSB-TV]