Cheshire Bridge Reopens

Cheshire Bridge Road reconnected as new bridge opens

BY COLLIN KELLEY

After more than a year, the bridge over South Fork Peachtree Creek on Cheshire Bridge Road has finally reopened to vehicles and pedestrians.

While work is continuing on the bridge, one lane in each direction and a sidewalk are open, according to the Atlanta Department of Transportation. The bridge had to be demolished and rebuilt after a fire in August 2021.

The city acknowledged that the rebuilding of the bridge, which cost nearly $7 million, had taken longer than expected.

The closure of Cheshire Bridge between Woodland Avenue and Faulkner Road caused businesses to lose customers and inconvenienced residents.

Jennifer Ohme, senior consultant for the Piedmont Heights Alliance, said businesses along Cheshire Bridge saw up to an 80 percent drop in sales. She said the closure not only hampered customers getting to businesses, but also deliveries.

Daniel Dailey, owner of Johnny’s Pizza, said the detour around closed bridge has had a “dramatic impact on street traffic and foot traffic.”

He said in the first three weeks after the fire, his pizzeria saw a 30 percent decline in total sales and a 50 percent decline in dine-in sales.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens cut the ribbon and walked across the bridge on Oct. 31, commenting that “being able to have two lanes of traffic will hopefully provide relief” for businesses along the corridor.

The complete rebuilding of the bridge could take until February, officials said.

Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta DOT officials walk across the newly reopened bridge. (Photo courtesy Mark McKay)

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