Road safety is a big concern after multiple interstate offramp crashes

ATLANTA — Multiple car crashes happening at homes near interstate offramps are raising concerns about safety along the offramps in Atlanta.

Several crashes into an apartment complex off McDaniel Street and Interstate 20 have caused serious damage to an apartment complex that now no longer lets people rent in the affected units.

A similar string of crashes at Bill Kennedy Way and I-20 has not only damaged a home, barricades, and the Beltline, but residents say pedestrians aren’t safe as they walk in the area.

“People don’t always have time to react to a car speeding off the ramp or something,” said Cullen Stockmeyer, who lives next door to a home that’s been damaged multiple times.

The most recent serious crash on Bill Kennedy Way pushed a concrete barricade into the Beltline last month. In Mechanicsville, a crash three weeks ago left significant damage to a fence and an apartment.

No one was seriously hurt in the crashes, but they’re too close of a call for some residents.

“It feels like it’s one of those things that’s just a matter of time, said Chris Rhodenbaugh, who uses the Beltline daily along Bill Kennedy Way. “It takes one three-to five-second mistake to potentially end people’s lives right here.”

The crashes were a major part of an Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee meeting on Wednesday.

City Councilman Jason Dozier asked for help protecting his district in Mechanicsville.

The city transportation commissioner told the committee he wants to analyze crashes at every offramp and develop a plan.

He added he’s working with GDOT to get more signs at offramps where crashes are happening.

“Sort of flashing beacon signs, pavement markings could be done to draw the driver’s attention more to the fact that there’s a signalized intersection coming up,” said ATLDOT Commissioner Josh Rowan.

For residents who live near the crashes, they welcome the chance for more changes.

“Signs could help,” said Stockmeyer. “Something flashing saying ‘Hey, slow down. There’s not a runway here.’”

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