Peachtree Road in Brookhaven destined for pedestrian-enhancing improvements

Peachtree Road—the northward continuation of Atlanta’s most storied thoroughfare—is far from an inviting, pleasant street by the time it passes through Brookhaven.

A 60-foot-wide ribbon of asphalt, lined on one side by a tall concrete wall along the Gold Line MARTA tracks and on the other by a narrow sidewalk, the road is a bane to drivers and pedestrians alike.

But now, the Georgia Department of Transportation has unveiled plans for a road reconfiguration, bringing planted medians, a new bike trail, and more accommodations for pedestrians.

According to Reporter Newspapers, the changes could impact more than a mile of the road, stretching from North Druid Hills Road to Ashford-Dunwoody Road.

Improvements would bring narrower lanes in order to accommodate a 10-foot wide multi-use sidewalk/bicycle track on the east side of the road and the new medians, in place of an unending left turn lane.

In addition to aesthetics, the planned improvements could improve safety. Currently, left turning vehicles block the fast lane in some places, and cars are forced to cross three lanes of oncoming traffic. The medians will funnel cars to traffic lights to make lefts safer for those heading in both directions.

City of Brookhaven via Reporter Newspapers

The biggest benefit could be the dedicated trail along the MARTA wall, complete with a railing to separate cyclists and pedestrians from traffic.

Changes are not yet set in stone, and the public is welcome to make comments online.

But don’t get too excited, as work isn’t slated to begin until 2021. Clearly, the wheels of progress move even slower than Atlanta’s rush-hour traffic.

• GDOT proposes major changes to Peachtree Road in Brookhaven [Reporter Newspapers]