Breaking Ground on South Boulevard: From Scary to Safe Street

On a Halloween morning that felt more treat than trick, shovels hit the dirt to mark the start of construction on the South Boulevard Safe Street Project, a milestone nearly a decade in the making.

Residents, city leaders, and advocates gathered to celebrate a long-awaited transformation along Boulevard SE, one of Atlanta’s most historically significant yet long-neglected corridors. What began as a neighborhood-led call for safer walking, biking, and rolling conditions has now become a city-funded project set to deliver new sidewalks, protected bike lanes, safer crossings, and fresh pavement from McDonough Boulevard to Woodward Avenue. Construction is expected to be complete by September 2026.

A City Committed to Safer Streets

Mayor Andre Dickens opened the ceremony by acknowledging the magnitude of the work ahead—and the persistence of communities who demanded change.

“We have pavement and sidewalks and bike lanes and everything going all across this city,” he said. “It may not be at the pace that everybody thinks it should happen by Friday, but it’s moving, and it’s a lot of work. I’ve lived in this city for 51 years, and I’ve never seen this many construction projects.”

The Mayor spoke candidly about the backlog of infrastructure needs, from Renew Atlanta and TSPLOST 1.0 to the Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure program and the city’s responsibility to deliver on long-promised projects. He also recognized the temporary disruptions that come with progress, noting lessons learned from corridors like Cascade Road and promising to minimize impacts on local businesses while construction proceeds.

“We are taking it one step at a time and getting them [projects] done,” Dickens said.

Community Leadership at the Core

District 1 Councilmember Jason Winston welcomed attendees and emphasized how community voice has shaped the South Boulevard design from the beginning.

“First, I want to thank Mayor Dickens for keeping safety at the center of our transportation agenda and for backing projects that move us toward our Vision Zero goals,” Winston said. “Every day in this country, precious lives are lost to dangerous conditions on our roads. It’s too easy to accept these tragedies as part of day-to-day life. I’m proud of this mayor for seeing this Vision Zero agenda for what it is, a desperately needed plan to stop the preventable loss of life.”

Winston credited the collaboration among neighborhood leaders, small businesses, and residents who stayed engaged through comment cards, design meetings, and Propel ATL's advocacy efforts.

“This project is proof that incredible things happen when we all come together,” he said. “You brought ideas, lived experiences, and tough questions to the forefront. Together, we turned concerns into a plan.”

He asked residents to stay patient and supportive as work begins.

“There will be cones and detours, so please be patient with our crews and continue to support our small businesses. My office and ATLDOT will keep lines open.”

Propel ATL will continue to follow progress on the corridor and uplift community voices as the city takes “one step at a time” toward a connected, Vision Zero-aligned network. View project plans on the ATLDOT website.