DeKalb Ave. improvements set to begin this summer

By Collin Kelley

Work is finally set to begin this summer on phase one of the DeKalb Avenue Complete Street Project, according to a copy of the plan obtained by INtown.

The plan was presented by the Atlanta Department of Transportation to stakeholders at a meeting held in early February and was expected to be revealed to

Hall of Justice

the public at an open house on Feb. 27.

Phase one of the plan – which stretches from Jackson Street to Ridgecrest Drive – will include resurfacing, removal of the reversible lane, sidewalk and ADA improvements, traffic signal upgrades, onstreet parking at Fox Bros. BBQ and a twoway cycle track between Hurt and Candler Streets. According to the city document, work on phase one will begin this summer.

The document states that because of

“budget and schedule constraints” phase one improvements are limited to the existing right-of-way. That means that the dream of a separate bike path and on-street parking for the length of the corridor will be shuffled to phase two. While concept developments are underway for phase two, according to the document, construction funding sources have yet to be identified.

New Nathan Deal Judicial Center officially opens in Downtown

The nearly $130 million Nathan Deal Judicial Center was officially opened in a ceremony on Feb. 11 in Downtown at the corner of Capitol Avenue and Memorial Drive.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was one of the guest speakers at the ceremony, along with current Gov. Brian Kemp and the building’s namesake, former Gov. Nathan Deal.

The imposing, sevenstory building houses the Georgia Supreme Court and the Georgia Court of Appeals. The interior is full of soaring atriums and skylights in both the common areas and courtrooms.

The courthouse sits on the site of the old Georgia Archives building, which was demolished to make way for the facility.