Bike Lane Appears Back in Northridge Bridge Design Plans

The persistence of bicycle adovocate Joe Seconder is having an impact on plans for the redesign of the Northridge Bridge over Ga. 400.

“The city has been pushing to have the bridge widened to accommodate dedicated bike lanes,” said Sharon Kraun, Sandy Springs spokesperson.

Seconder has complained that plans for bike lanes are not included in bridge plans by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Public Works director Garrin Coleman told Patch that a bike lane appears to be back in GDOT plans for the eastbound side of the bridge. Current plans include an 11-foot lane for cars and a four-foot striped lane for bikes on that side. The westbound side will have a 13-foot wide lane with no bike striping

Last November, City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding for the project. The cost at that time was $10,042,826 to be paid for by GDOT and State Road and Tollway Authority. Sandy Springs would match bridge enhancements in the amount of $500,000.

Seconder told Patch told that he is optimistic now that a lane has been added to design plans and he is pushing for lanes on both sides of the bridge.

“We have been lobbying for extra space, but ultimately it’s up to GDOT because they own the space,” Kraun said.