COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Days before the Atlanta Braves home opener, a key component of the parking plan at SunTrust Park still isn't open for business.
The controversial Interstate 285 pedestrian bridge is expected to open Friday even though it's not yet finished.
County officials say the bridge may not look pretty for Friday's opener, but it will be open.
Nick Panter is a chef at the Galleria across the interstate, and like others hopes this flurry of activity will lead to an open bridge for fans on Friday.
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"Fingers crossed and we'll see what happens," Panter told Channel 2’s Ross Cavitt.
After two ball games in SunTrust, one an exhibition and the other a college contest, early reviews of traffic and parking seemed positive, easing some of the fans' fears.
"I assumed it would just be a traffic nightmare, with 75 and 285 coming together. It was a tough spot but it was OK," Panter said.
SunTrust Park: The new home of the Braves
But those two debuts were half-full stadiums. Friday is a 41,000-person sellout and the pedestrian bridges, especially the one that flies over I-285, are key pieces of the larger traffic and parking puzzle.
Hundreds of fans have already purchased parking that will put them on the other side of 285 before game time.
There really is no other way to get them to the ballpark.
Being open and being finished may not be the same thing.
Crews will likely install temporary fencing and safety devices for Friday's opener with a DOT inspector signing off on it.
Then hours after the game, crews would shut it down again to keep working on the permanent structure.
Cox Media Group
