ATLANTA — Some Atlanta pedestrians are still learning about the closures near the Beltline that are set to begin Sunday night.
Single lanes on 10th Street and Monroe Drive will be closed until June 14 for safety improvements, according to the Atlanta Beltline.
There were plenty of signs in the area, but runner Chris Driver missed them.
"I didn't really notice. I had no idea," Driver said.
Driver has been waiting for improvements for years. He said he lives on the Beltline and runs all the time. However, when he makes it to Monroe Drive, he uses caution.
"I look at this as sort of a turnaround point because there's not as much access going up there," Driver said. "It's actually... it's hard to see where it goes from here. There's not a lot of clear marking. So, hopefully, they'll improve that."
Atlanta Beltline's website explains that "key improvements include a new 10th Street bike lane providing direct access to the Atlanta Beltline to enhance connectivity and safety for trail users, a raised pedestrian crossing to improve safety for trail users and pedestrians, improved crossings and pedestrian signals at key intersections to ensure safer travel for all users of the trail, and new traffic signals at Kanuga St. NE and Monroe Dr. NE to manage traffic flow and enhance safety."
Resident Maya Ray said signals are going to be important.
"I would love to see more caution lights," she said. "I would love to see more lights down the road telling people that a caution is coming up or pedestrians are near."
Others who frequent the Beltline have commented that they'd want a bridge to be added to the project.
"To go above the cars that would be perfect, actually, that would not impede on traffic at all," Ray said. "And then, we will have a safe place to walk."
In the meantime, drivers will need to be alert to the closures.
Chris hopes that the finished work will create a safer walkway overall, as he's been hit while on a bike in another state.
"You could start with a light and kind of grow from there, but definitely flagging this busy intersection, but you don't want to restrict the flow of traffic that much on this part, but yeah, having a way to have it well marked, as you know, I guess having a cake and eating it too," Driver said.
11Alive spoke to a few businesses off-camera. Two, restaurant spokespersons said they don't think it will impact business much. However, one spokesperson said the City of Atlanta worked with them, while the other said they had no communication at all.
The intersection will be fully closed for 24 hours starting Sunday. To get around the blockages, you can detour on Kenuga Street.