ATLANTA, Ga. — Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway in northeast Atlanta is one of the most dangerous corridors in the metro area for walkers and drivers.
Channel 2′s Michael Seiden has learned that some new safety measures are coming that could potentially save countless lives.
Neighbors and business owners in the area said they’re fed up with drivers who treat the road like a race track.
Saunja Lawson, a local business owner who spent the last 50 years in the neighborhood said she’s seen it all.
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“I’ve seen people get hit. Thrown up in the air. Bodies in the air,” Lawson said.
Since 2010 Atlanta Police have responded to more than 25 walkers killed by cars.
Investigators say high speed, distracted driving, and a lack of crosswalks and traffic lights have also played a role in at least 10 deaths since 2021.
Kendra Ryles, the girlfriend of Tavarius Ridgeway, 37, said it’s been three months since a hit-and-run driver struck and killed the love of her life as he attempted to cross the street on Thanksgiving night.
“How many more people do we have to keep losing?” Ryles asked.
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Currently, Donald Lee Holloway Parkway is a four-lane road with two lanes in each direction and no median.
This spring, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the city of Atlanta will begin work on a project that will convert this busy road to a three-lane road with one lane in each direction and a center-turning lane.
Officials say research shows it will help reduce crashes by 37%.
This year Atlanta police have been stepping up their patrols, and after two months, it appears to be working.
Since January Atlanta police have performed 285 traffic stops resulting in more than 160 speeding citations and more than 70 hands-free violations.
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