CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — People driving and walking on a busy corridor connecting Atlanta to Clayton County will notice more construction work aimed at enhancing safety.
Clayton County leaders secured a multi-million dollar grant to improve safety for those who walk on Tara Blvd.
“A lot of people have died on here,” said Eugene Murray Jr.
He sells product from his farm, DM Fruit and Produce, on a stretch of the road in Jonesboro, but he said he will not cross it.
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“I will not at all. It’s too dangerous,” said Murray.
County Commissioner Demont Davis told Channel 2’s Courtney Francisco Monday, “This is a very, very dangerous corridor that needs some attention.”
Davis said Clayton County obtained the $5.4 million in federal grant money from the Atlanta Regional Commission.
The money will be used on a project the county calls “Right-of-Way.”
This project will focus on pedestrian safety efforts on Tara Boulevard to make the area safer and more accessible for people walking, biking and using transit. The goal is to reduce serious crashes while expanding access to jobs, services and other destinations along the roadway.
Davis said he hopes to work will catch drivers’ attention, as well as reduce the number of speeders on Tara Blvd.
“I believe that once we begin to put the sidewalks in and the lights come on, folks are going to have to slow down,” said Davis.
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In addition to the changes this grant allows, Davis said the Georgia Department of Transportation’s crosswalk installation project should start to come online in the next 30 days.
That includes crosswalks that stop six lanes of traffic at six intersections along Tara Blvd.
“We get constant calls about this corridor and folks wanting to know what’s going to happen, what are we going to do to improve it and when is it going to take place,” said Davis.
Locals like Murray said this latest grant should be a win.
“That’s a plus. They need to do that because, like I said, this is constant traffic. It’s not safe to go trying to cross the street,” said Murray.
The Atlanta Regional Commission also awarded Clayton County $8 million dollars to strengthen the reliability of the county bus operations.
“These investments represent more than transportation funding, they represent greater safety, mobility, economic opportunity, and an improved quality of life for Clayton County residents,” said Anna Roach, ARC Executive Director and CEO. “They also demonstrate what can be accomplished through communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to regional progress.”
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