By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | July 2, 2025

In preparation for holiday travel and the arrival of global visitors next summer, the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) has announced a temporary halt on several construction projects, effective Thursday afternoon. The pause, aimed at easing traffic congestion for Independence Day, will last from noon on Thursday, July 3, through 9 a.m. on Monday, July 7.

ATLDOT Commissioner Solomon Caviness said the move is part of a broader plan to keep residents safe and mobile over the busy holiday weekend while maintaining momentum on critical infrastructure upgrades.

“We want to make sure that our improvements are in line with equity, safety, and mobility,” Caviness said. “And support our Vision Zero initiative to bring fatalities and serious injuries through crashes down to zero by the year 2040.”

The city formed the Atlanta Department of Transportation in 2019 to serve as the central agency for all transportation-related issues. The department acts as a one-stop shop for citizens and outside partners. It was built with dedicated staff pulled from Public Works, City Planning, and Renew Atlanta. ATLDOT is fully equipped to plan, design, build, and maintain the city’s mobility network under the One Atlanta Strategic Transportation Plan.

$120 Million Push to Improve Downtown

The construction moratorium is just a brief pause in a significant, $120 million infrastructure campaign, approved in October 2024, that specifically targets Downtown Atlanta ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.. With an estimated 300,000 visitors expected for eight matches, the city is working diligently to complete a variety of upgrades.

Ongoing efforts include:

• 20 miles of street resurfacing
• 11 miles of sidewalk repairs
• 200 crosswalk restripings
• 150 new streetlights
• 80 wheelchair ramps
• New signage and wayfinding systems

Many of these projects fall under the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan, a national initiative aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities. Atlanta saw 100 traffic fatalities in 2021; since then, deaths have dropped by 23%, a significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to improve road safety.

“Ahead of next summer, we want to make sure that we have the most presentable downtown and the safest downtown possible,” Caviness emphasized.

MLK & Ted Turner Viaduct to Reopen

Among the marquee projects nearing completion is the MLK and Ted Turner Viaduct Reconnection Project, a long-awaited effort to restore a key passageway linking Atlanta’s government district with the city’s entertainment core.

Initially built in 1922, the viaduct had been closed for years due to major infrastructure failures. Phase one of the restoration was completed in 2022. Phase two began in late 2024. According to Caviness, the final portion of the bridge is expected to reopen to traffic in mid-July.

“It’s an important connector from our Downtown government district over to the entertainment and sports complex,” he said, referring to the area that includes Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena.

Once reopened, the viaduct is expected to improve traffic flow and lay the groundwork for the Centennial Yards development, a sweeping overhaul project meant to reimagine Atlanta’s downtown core.

Momentum to Resume Monday

While the moratorium temporarily halts active work zones, Caviness says the department is ready to resume progress first thing Monday morning.

“On Monday, we will continue the work on our resurfacing in the downtown district, which includes over 25 centerline miles of roadway,” Caviness said. “We’re also bringing more than 11 miles of sidewalk improvements to the downtown area.”

The construction freeze serves not only to reduce holiday congestion but also signals the city’s seriousness in addressing both public safety and international visibility ahead of FIFA 2026.

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