Chamber, Sandy Springs Conservancy Endorse 'Complete Streets' Plan

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Two organizations have announced their support of a request for the Georgia Department of Transportation to incorporate pedestrian and bicycle options with its plan to rebuild the I-285 interchange at GA-400.

The Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce and Sandy Springs Conservancy have both expressed support of Bike Walk Dunwoody’s proposal for pedestrian and bicycle accommodations and space for a future multi-use trail network to be added to the project.

The chamber’s resolution, written by President and CEO Tom Mahaffey, can be reviewed here while the Conservancy’s letter in support can be read here.

Sandy Springs Conservancy Chairman Steve Levetan notes improvements to the interchange “will directly impact” his city, Dunwoody, Brookhaven and the perimeter area as a hole.

“The stated reason international and national corporations such as Mercedes Benz and State Farm have decided to locate to the Perimeter area is to take advantage of the live, work and play lifestyle that includes vehicular, pedestrian and transit options,” Levetan writes. “An interchange design that allows multi-modal links can support community connectivity and enhance larger mobility goals. Experience around this region and the nation demonstrate that trails are valuable investments for mobility and economic development.”

GDOT is proposing roughly six miles of operational improvements along S.R. 400 and approximately 4.3 miles along I-285 in the vicinity of the interchange including:

• Construction of barrier-separated collector-distributor lanes northbound and southbound along S.R. 400 from I-285 to Spalding Drive, as well as, eastbound and westbound along I-285 from Roswell Road to Ashford-Dunwoody Road;
• Reconstruction of existing ramps between the two;
• Building new flyover bridges and reconstructing and widening existing bridges in the interchange area; and
• Construction of grade-separated, braided ramps (where one ramp crosses over another) in the vicinity of Ashford-Dunwoody Road and Roswell Road to eliminate conflicts between traffic entering and exiting Georgia 400 and traffic entering and exiting the Roswell Road and Ashford Dunwoody interchanges.

Other organizations that have come out in support of the proposal include Buckhead CID, Livable Buckhead, Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce, PATH Foundation and Georgia Trail Summit.