ATLANTA — There is some big news for drivers in Midtown waiting for Cheshire Bridge Road to reopen.
The Atlanta Department of Transportation says repairs are finally nearing completion five months after a fire damaged the bridge and forced it to close. The target completion date is now less than two weeks away on Monday, May 27.
Thursday, an ATLDOT spokesperson released the following update on the bridge's progress:
"We thank the community for its patience as the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) completes repairs to shore up the structural integrity of Cheshire Bridge. ATLDOT is collaborating with various agencies and partners in a coordinated effort to complete the project as scheduled.
Safety will always be our highest priority. So, the road closure will remain in place as crews work around the clock to make the bridge safe for public use. GPS applications have been updated to reflect the closure and alternate routes."
Final details, such as sidewalks, asphalt resurfacing and roadway striping, are currently underway ahead of the bridge's planned reopening.
The bridge has been closed since December 2023, after a fire from a homeless encampment under the bridge burned out of control. The bridge had just been reopened earlier in 2023, after being closed for nearly 15 months after a similar fire in 2021.
The reopening should be a relief to residents and businesses in the area, who told 11Alive they have suffered after multiple closures caused traffic challenges for people who live there and cut into their bottom line.