It's not every day the City of Atlanta begins a two+ mile Complete Street project that's been on the books for eight years! On Tuesday, December 5, 2023, we joined Mayor Andre Dickens, Councilmember Dustin Hillis, the Atlanta Department of Transportation, and the Upper Westside Community Improvement District in celebrating the Howell Mill Complete Street groundbreaking, moving the project into the active construction phase. 

Photo: Propel ATL. Pictured: Councilmember Dustin Hillis and ATLDOT Commissioner Solomon Caviness

Propel ATL advocated for this project for years. First funded by the Renew Atlanta Bond in 2015, this project was eagerly anticipated, put on the chopping block when Renew Atlanta ran out of funds, despaired of, and then viewed with fresh hope. 

A lot has changed since it was first conceived. As Urbanize Atlanta points out, "...[s]ince 2018, more than 1,100 apartments and townhomes have delivered in the Howell Mill blocks between 14th and 10th streets alone, with hundreds more in the pipeline."

The Upper Westside CID noted "[t]his transformative project, initially identified in 2015 as a Renew Atlanta bond-funded initiative, is set to address crucial aspects of the area’s infrastructure. The city will resurface Howell Mill Road from just north of Collier Road to Marietta Street, synchronize the traffic signals through technology upgrades and build raised bike lanes south of Forrest Street. Sidewalk repairs and safety improvements are integral components of this Complete Street project."

The project will

• Resurface Howell Mill Road between Collier Road and Marietta Street
• Fix sidewalks and ADA ramps
• Install raised bike lanes from Forrest Street (about a block north of Atlanta Water Works, near Urban Tree Cidery) south to Marietta Street
• Upgrade traffic signals
• Beacon crosswalks at Brady/Howell Mill and at Channing/Howell Mill
• Provide safety improvements at 12 intersections 

Commissioner Caviness describing the project:

Thanks to the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Department of Transportation, the Upper Westside Community Improvement District, and the residents and businesses along the corridor for continuing to push for the project. 

Photo: Propel ATL. Pictured: Councilmember Dustin Hillis, Upper Westside CID Executive Director Elizabeth Hollister, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens

Media coverage

“At long last, Howell Mill Complete Street redo is actually happening” -Urbanize Atlanta, Dec. 4, 2023

“Groundbreaking ceremony held for Atlanta's Howell Mill Road corridor” -WSB, Dec. 5, 2023

“One of Atlanta’s busiest roads is about to get a $21.5 million makeover” -WSB, Dec. 5, 2023