Atlanta council weighs replacing Moores Mill Road bridge, ranking 15 bridges for replacement

Share Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Atlanta City Council is considering two resolutions on bridges. One asks the city to study replacing the 102-year-old Moores Mill Road bridge over Peachtree Creek in northwest Atlanta instead of solely repairing it. The other asks the city to assess bridges citywide and rank the 15 most in need of replacement. The Moores Mill Road bridge has been out of commission for three weeks. Last week, Councilmember Dustin Hillis told Atlanta News First the city is aiming for a Dec. 15 completion of these latest repairs and reopening of the bridge to traffic. What the Moores Mill resolution requests In Resolution 26-R-4342, the Council is requesting that the mayor direct the commissioner of the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) to start a feasibility study, preliminary engineering assessment, cost estimate, funding options and project schedule for the bridge’s replacement. The resolution calls for a “modern, elevated, wider, single-span bridge.” It says the design should improve flood resilience, eliminate intermediate support piers, and improve vehicle and pedestrian safety. The City Council referred the resolution to its Transportation Committee without objection on Nov. 2, according to the meeting history. The Transportation Committee was set to review the legislation on Monday, but it did not have a quorum. It’ll now be under review on Nov. 16 during a Committee of the Whole meeting, before going before the full council. If the legislation is approved, the city will have 120 days to complete the feasibility study, according to the report. Proposed Moores Mill design According to Resolution 26-R-4342, the city would evaluate a bridge with these features: A length of approximately 250 feet. The existing bridge measures approximately 181 feet in total length. A width of approximately 45 to 50 feet. Two 11-foot vehicle lanes and sidewalks on both sides. The north sidewalk would be built to shared-use specifications and width. A roadway elevation approximately three to five feet above the existing crossing, or another height set through engineering and hydraulic analysis. No intermediate support piers within Peachtree Creek. The resolution says the city would also consider steel plate-girder and steel through-truss designs. It says either could allow the bridge to be built without intermediate piers. Flooding and damage The resolution says the existing bridge’s multiple intermediate support piers obstruct the flow of Peachtree Creek and collect trees, branches and other debris during significant rainfall. It says the bridge and its approaches sit within the flood zone. The resolution cites flooding in 2009 and multiple floods since then, as recent as 2025. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Moores Mill Road bridge to stay closed until mid-December, Atlanta City Council member says According to the resolution, the bridge was significantly damaged by a water valve break and a “purported vehicle strike” on Oct. 20, 2026. The city has said a large vehicle hit the bridge. Neighbors and city officials also raised concerns about the weight capacity of the bridge, which was built in about 1924. Neighbor reaction People who live and drive in the area generally support the idea of replacing the bridge. One neighbor described driving on the bridge as “rickety.” Neighbors said headphones are a must, especially overnight, to drown out construction noise. The majority of people Atlanta News First spoke with support the replacement but had qualms about the potential lengthy timetable required. “That is one of my concerns here: If they do replace the bridge, how long will it take, given the history of the other work from Moores Mill?” said Jonathan Grunberg, who lives near the bridge. “This is an extremely important thoroughfare, and again, as much as I don’t like the traffic, I understand it’s vital to the artery they’re developing on Atlanta Road.” PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Moores Mill Road bridge closed for evaluation and repairs after partial collapse “If they could do it quickly, efficiently, and maybe make it little wider,” said Stanley Gaines, another nearby resident. Drivers also reported tight, restrictive lanes. “It needs to definitely be wider, because people drive like lunatics, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had close calls, just wide trucks,” said Tiffany Farrell. Citywide bridge assessment A second measure, Resolution 26-R-4343, requests that the mayor direct ATLDOT to hire an independent, qualified bridge engineering firm to assess bridges under the city’s jurisdiction. The firm would identify and rank the 15 bridges most in need of replacement. The resolution says many city bridges were built decades ago and some are more than 100 years old. It says older bridges may have structural deterioration, inadequate roadway widths, insufficient pedestrian accommodations, flooding vulnerabilities and rising maintenance costs. What the citywide assessment would evaluate The resolution says the assessment would include, but not be limited to, these criteria: Structural condition and safety, including inspection ratings and load restrictions Age and remaining service life Traffic volumes, emergency response access and alternate routes Roadway width and compliance with current design standards Sidewalks and bicycle accommodations Flooding and hydraulic vulnerability, including floodplain exposure and debris accumulation Maintenance and lifecycle costs, including the cost of continued repairs versus full replacement Replacement feasibility, including environmental constraints, right-of-way needs, utility conflicts and estimated costs The resolution says the firm would develop a prioritization methodology that weights structural condition, public safety, roadway width, pedestrian safety, flooding vulnerability and other factors. For each of the 15 ranked bridges, the report would include the bridge’s location, year of construction, length, width, structural type, condition, traffic volumes, recommended replacement scope, estimated cost and potential funding sources. The resolution excludes bridges owned and maintained exclusively by state or federal agencies or other entities outside the city’s jurisdiction. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Moores Mill Road bridge over Peachtree Creek in Atlanta closed after wall collapses The resolution says some potential funding sources, such as transportation bonds and Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax, come up only every three to five years. It says the administration and City Council want the information available to make funding decisions. It requests that ATLDOT present the completed assessment to the Transportation Committee within 150 days of the resolution’s adoption. The resolution says the findings are intended to inform the city’s capital improvement planning, annual budget deliberations and pursuit of state and federal bridge replacement funding. Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.