Through the heart of downtown Peachtree Corners runs S.R. 141 (Peachtree Parkway), a four-lane thoroughfare that sees an average of 44,240 daily trips. One either side of the highway are two significant business development areas: The Forum, an existing shopping center and the city’s Town Center, a new site that includes shopping, recreation, dining and residential space, as well as an amphitheater and green space. Early in the project, studies had identified the need for a bridge over the highway that could connect these two popular destinations as high pedestrian traffic from various activities and shared parking was anticipated. The case for a new structure was further supported by safety analyses and increasing traffic numbers.
Michael Baker served as the project manager, lead architect and lead designer for this project. Additionally, Michael Baker provided utility coordination, permitting, bidding assistance, meeting coordination and construction oversight.
The new, 190-foot-long truss arch pedestrian bridge crosses over Peachtree Parkway. This pedestrian bridge serves not only as a safe connectivity point between the two developments, but as a landmark and gateway to Peachtree Corners. In addition to supplying safe access across the parkway to the two retail complexes, the bridge creates a sense of place for this newly incorporated community.