Art designed to defend: Bike lane barriers to be installed along 10th Street in Midtown
By Patrick Quinn
Published: Oct. 29, 2024 at 9:03 PM EDT ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - To improve cyclist safety, the City of Atlanta is installing permanent concrete barriers along 10th Street adjacent to Piedmont Park. “It’s really something we’re trying to do city-wide, where we have existing bike lane protection that we think needs to be improved or upgraded,” said John Saxton, mobility planning director for Atlanta’s Department of Transportation. Saxton said the move is part of the city’s “Vision Zero” goal to eliminate traffic fatalities in Atlanta by 2040.
“You can see these concrete blocks are not going anywhere. They are much more durable, much more easy to maintain, and they offer a higher level of protection,” said Saxton. More than 300 concrete slabs will be connected along 10th Street in Midtown from Piedmont Avenue to Monroe Drive. Saxton said this stretch of Midtown is a part of the city’s high-injury network.
In February 2016, 14-year-old Alexia Hyneman was killed while riding her bike home from Grady High School, now Midtown High School. She was crossing Monroe when a car hit her at the intersection of 10th Street. A ghost bike was installed at that intersection serving as a memorial for Hyneman. “The fact is that memorial stands as a testament to all kids going to and from (Midtown) High School that this is dangerous,” said Thomas Hyneman, Alexia’s father, said. Thomas said he welcomes the safety improvements along this corridor. “I’m happy. This is happening. It’s taken a long time. The money was earmarked forever ago. But it’s happening. And all we can do is look forward,” he said. On Tuesday, Thomas discovered the memorial in honor of his daughter was no longer at the intersection. It’s unclear what happened to the memorial. The intersection has been under construction for months.
Muralist Krista "Jonesy" Jones hopes to have the public concrete barrier mural completed by the end of the year, and ready to be installed. “It’s pretty incredible. I mean this will span about 3,000 feet on 10th street,” said Jones, sitting amidst some 300 concrete slabs. Jones was contracted by Atlanta’s Department of Transportation and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs to complete this public mural. “The purpose of this project is for visibility and safety for the bicycle lane traffic,” said Jones. “My hope is just to add a little more joy to everybody’s lives.”
In a recent interview with Atlanta News First, Commissioner Solomon Caviness of Atlanta’s Department of Transportation said fatalities and serious injuries dropped 23% from 2023 to 2024, year-over-year. Jones said the vision of the artwork is tied to a greater mural series called “Formations.” “What you’re seeing here is really stylized forms of nature. So the blue I’m painting right now is actually clips of plant life,” said Jones.
And the public can now help paint these concrete columns. Every weekend until Nov. 16, members of the public can sign up here. Participants can sign up for 2-hour time slots.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
Comments