Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, a stretch of road that will unify Midtown Atlanta from Northside Drive to West Peachtree Street and provide an improved transportation and pedestrian corridor, was dedicated in honor of the former mayor on Jan. 4.

Plans for the project involve redesigning, reconstructing and connecting Jones, Simpson and Alexander streets into a continuous, four-lane, two-way corridor, replacing one-way sections and renaming the entire stretch.

The upgrades will include bike lanes, wider sidewalks, improved pedestrian access and enhanced transit mobility, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The first phase of the project, between West Peachtree and Luckie streets, is expected to be complete in time for the opening of the Georgia Aquarium in November and will relieve local traffic congestion and enhance access to and from the new facility.

The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, the Department of Transportation, the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District are funding the $13.3 million project.

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