The Dirt on PATH400
Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead, gives us the dirt on PATH400 progress.
Construction Update
Mountain Way Common
I have fabulous news to share – THE BRIDGE CONCRETE IS COMPLETE! I have now walked continuously from one side of Mountain Way Common to the other without rock climbing gear! But, sorry, guys – that doesn’t mean you all are able to do it yet! (Yes, I am totally gloating. You heard that right.)
The concrete hasn’t yet cured – and here’s your next cocktail party technical tidbit: Curing takes a total of 28 days. The crew must complete incremental “breaks” of sample cores at 3, 14 and 28 days. This is to ensure the concrete is coming up to its full 4000psi strength. So no walkie until concrete breaky… well that and the installation of secure handrails, of course!
NERD ALERT! Are you wondering what happens if the concrete breaks don’t measure up? Well, I am! If the breaks don’t meet the 4,000psi, they will do a “Swiss hammer test” to make sure everything is A-Okay. Are you picturing Thor on the bridge? ME TOO! Unfortunately, it isn’t that sexy. It’s a hand-held device invented in 1954 that measures the compressive strength of the concrete, rebound Q values, and stuff like that. It kind of looks like a drill. I would prefer Thor 😉
Many of you have asked what we are going to do with the cool rocks we’ve found onsite. They are absolutely beautiful, (even to those of us who didn’t take the Rocks for Jocks class in college) so, of course we’re going to use them everywhere we can! I’ve given Victor – the project superintendent you met last month – free reign to use them where his little heart desires to make the trail even more gorgeous than it’s already destined to be!
Miami Circle
We officially got underway on the gateway from Miami Circle last week! Our crews started work to clear the vegetation (weeds), stirring up the mosquitoes something fierce! And I am a magnet for those little jerks!
This first phase of work will be super quick, and a little underwhelming, as it does not include the artwork. That will come later this year once we launch our call to artists in partnership with the City’s cultural affairs department. We are scheduled to have the roadway portion all done by October 6th according to our team at Excellere Construction!
Next Phases
The City of Atlanta’s marble machine is still chugging along, but I have to give a major shoutout to Buckhead resident and my personal hero, Peter Aman. In his new role at the City, Peter has gone to bat to make some minor miracles happen. THANK YOU, PETER! If you see him out and about, please buy him a beer!
What looks like a simple nine-step process on paper actually involves what seems like a hundred different people. But Peter is her
ding those cats like a pro and making progress on the Loridans to Sandy Springs section. And from what I hear, Sandy Springs might even beat us to the punch and get their section underway ahead of us, which I am totally ok with! (Don’t buy that – I’m trying to be a team player since it is all about PATH400 after all 😊)
Party on the PATH
Our annual Party on the PATH event returns Sunday, October 6th! Party on the PATH celebrates PATH400, part of our work to make Buckhead an even better place to live, work and play.
When: Sunday, October 6 from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Eclipse di Luna Buckhead
Tickets: VIP – $85, General Admission – $65
Join Livable Buckhead for an evening of live music, delicious food and fun at the intersection of two Buckhead landmarks – the Miami Circle gallery district and the PATH400 trail.
Early bird rate: $10 off with code EARLYBIRD
Click here to purchase tickets.
Discover the Birds of PATH400: A New Sign Unveiled
We are thrilled to announce the installation of a new sign along PATH400, thanks to a generous grant from the Buckhead Rotary Club. This sign, located at the Rock Memorial Overlook between Lenox Mall and Miami Circle, highlights the native birds you can spot along the path. It joins last year’s native plant sign to create a rich educational experience for all PATH400 users. Another special shoutout goes to HGOR, a planning and landscape architecture firm in Buckhead, for donating their time and expertise to design these beautiful signs.
We invite everyone to come out and explore our informative display showcasing the diverse bird species that call PATH400 home. Turn your walk into a fun game by seeing how many species of birds and plants you can identify. Click here to read more.
