Beginning Wednesday, May 18, a portion of Second Street will be closed to begin construction of its connection the new segment of road running from the intersection of Telfair Street and Little Richard Penniman Boulevard. The road closed will be from Ash Street and to the other side of the hump bridge. A map is below of the closed area and the detours; click on the image to enlarge..

Detour signs will be posted further out from the actual closure to that people will be encouraged to drive the larger roads and not through the neighborhoods. Attached is a map of the closure and detours.

Construction of the new connection will take approximately 60 days. Once complete, the new segment of the road will reopen to traffic, but the segment of Second Street over the hump bridge will NOT reopen.

About the Second Street Corridor
This road closure is the next step in the construction of a bike and pedestrian friendly bridge linking Little Richard Penniman Boulevard and Second Street as part of Macon-Bibb County’s Second Street Corridor project, which is an expansive and long-term economic development and neighborhood revitalization project. The road and bridge is being funded with the voter-approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

The pedestrian bridge is being funded through the Tax Allocation District created by the former City of Macon prior to consolidation. It will serve a signature gateway into Downtown, and its construction was a catalyst in securing almost $50 million in investment to the Tindall Heights area.

Other projects along the Second Street Corridor include:

• The Vision Block between Cherry and Poplar Streets, which features bike lanes, reverse angle parking, landscaping, shade trees, benches, improved sidewalks, an irrigation system, and more;
• The new Pinnacle Park, which is located on the site of the former Boys and Girls Club on Second Street and feature trails, benches, landscaping, and a great view of Downtown;
• MidCity Square, a new greenspace at the intersection of Second and Pine Streets; and
• The redevelopment of Tindall Homes by the Macon Housing Authority, currently its oldest set of facilities.

The Second Street Corridor project was begun with eight million dollars from the voter-approved SPLOST designated to improve the area that stretches from East Macon through Downtown, connecting to Little Richard Penniman and Mercer University Boulevards, and creating gateways into Macon-Bibb at either end. Long-term, Macon-Bibb County wants to extend the Corridor further west along Mercer University Boulevard to the Macon Mall and Middle Georgia State College. The Vision Block and the Connector were funded by the SPLOST.

About the Forward Together Strategic Plan
The redevelopment and revitalization of the Second Street Corridor is a major project in Macon-Bibb County’s Forward Together Strategic Plan and is included in the Infrastructure Improvement Strategic Focus Area, while the Vision Block is a part of Safe Neighborhoods and Safe Neighborhoods Area. The creation of greenspace and parks (including MidCity Square and Pinnacle Park) will improve the Quality of Life for residents, visitors, and employees all along the Corridor. In September 2015, the City-County Communications & Marketing Association awarded Macon-Bibb County

In January 2014, Macon-Bibb County began working with the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to develop the first Forward Together Strategic Plan. This process lasted more than a year and involved multiple retreats, work sessions, and meetings with department heads, organizations, and stakeholders. The planning process was funded with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

This process helped develop the consolidated government’s new Mission and Vision statements, as well as identify five Strategic Focus areas that are helping focus service delivery, programs, and initiatives: Economic and Community Development; Safe Neighborhoods and Safe Communities; Efficient and Effective Government; Infrastructure Improvement; and Quality of Life.

The new Strategic Plan was the driving force behind the development of the FY2015, FY2016, and proposed FY2017 budgets, which have included the mandated 20% reduction of the budget since consolidation, millage rate reductions and elimination of double taxation, full implementation of a new pay scale, and elimination of double taxation.