Decide DeKalb Approves $588K Tax Allocation District Investment To Advance Essential Interstate 85 Pedestrian Bridge
New multimodal connection will bridge I-85, improve pedestrian safety and strengthen access to jobs, trails and redevelopment
DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA (July 23, 2026) — The Decide DeKalb Development Authority Board of Directors has approved a $588,168 Urban Renewal Fund grant to the city of Brookhaven to advance the design of a new pedestrian bridge over Interstate 85, an infrastructure investment that will create a safer, ADA-accessible connection between one of DeKalb County’s largest employment centers and the growing regional trail network.
The award, funded through the Briarcliff North Druid Hills Tax Allocation District (TAD), will support eligible design and other soft costs associated with the proposed bridge. The project is planned as a 14-foot-wide, grade-separated multi-use connection between the Emory University Executive Park campus and the Peachtree Creek Greenway, providing a dedicated route for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized users above one of metro Atlanta’s busiest interstate corridors.
Today, the area has only one pedestrian crossing over I-85, a single 42-inch sidewalk along the North Druid Hills Road interchange bridge. The proposed pedestrian bridge would create a dedicated alternative designed specifically around safety, accessibility and multimodal connectivity.
“This investment represents the kind of strategic infrastructure work that makes growth more connected, more accessible and more sustainable,” said Dorian DeBarr, President and CEO of Decide DeKalb Development Authority. We are not simply helping fund the design of a bridge. We are helping connect people to jobs, institutions, trails and future opportunities, As DeKalb County continues to grow, our infrastructure must grow with it and that means investing in projects that strengthen both economic development and quality of life.”
The bridge is envisioned as a critical link between Executive Park, the Emory University campus and Phase II of the Peachtree Creek Greenway. Once completed, the connection will provide direct access from a major employment and institutional center to a trail network that is planned to ultimately connect with the Atlanta Beltline at the Confluence.
On the west side of I-85, the bridge will connect to Phase II of the Peachtree Creek Greenway through an elevator plaza and an ADA-compliant ramp, creating an accessible route across the interstate.
The project also advances long-standing goals of the Briarcliff North Druid Hills TAD Redevelopment Plan, which calls for infrastructure that safely connects neighborhoods, supports pedestrian and bicycle mobility, expands access to parks and open spaces, and helps stimulate economic growth.
“DeKalb County’s future depends on our ability to connect the places where people live, work, learn and gather,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “This project reflects the kind of forward-looking investment that strengthens communities and positions our county for continued growth. By creating safer connections across a major transportation barrier, we are expanding access and supporting a more connected DeKalb.”
The city of Brookhaven has advanced the project through concept design, intergovernmental coordination and public engagement since it was recommended in the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Transportation Plan update.
The city is working with design firm Michael Baker International and coordinating closely with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), which has jurisdiction over I-85 and bridges throughout the state. Because the project crosses a federal interstate, GDOT coordination and authorization are integral to its design and eventual construction.
The result is a collaborative approach intended to improve mobility while maintaining safety for motorists traveling below and creating a dedicated route for pedestrians and bicyclists above.
“Brookhaven has been intentional about building a transportation network that gives people safer and more connected ways to move through our community,” said Brookhaven Mayor John Park. “This bridge will overcome a significant physical barrier created by I-85 and create a direct connection between Executive Park and the Peachtree Creek Greenway. We appreciate the partnership of Decide DeKalb, DeKalb County and GDOT as we continue advancing this important investment in Brookhaven’s future.”
The $588,168 award represents approximately 31% of eligible project soft costs. The city of Brookhaven is contributing funding through its Special Service District, with additional TAD support anticipated to be considered as the project advances toward construction.
The city is expected to return to the Decide DeKalb Board in late 2027 to request a supplemental TAD award for eligible construction-related costs. Emory is providing $15 million.
Right-of-way acquisitions, easements and environmental permitting are anticipated to be completed in 2027, followed by final design and required GDOT authorization. Construction is currently anticipated to begin in 2028, with completion targeted for 2029.
The project builds on broader public and private investment underway across DeKalb County, where infrastructure, redevelopment and economic development initiatives are reshaping corridors and creating new opportunities for residents, businesses and communities.
“Projects like this demonstrate why economic development cannot be separated from infrastructure,” DeBarr added. “A thriving county requires more than new buildings. It requires the connections that allow people and places to function together. This is the kind of investment that helps turn growth into lasting opportunity.”
Project renderings can be found HERE
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