Businesses in South Fulton face months of disruption after Fairburn Road was scheduled to close between the North and South Utoy Creek crossings from Monday, October 5, while two ageing bridges are replaced.
The closure, which is expected to remain in place until spring 2027, has prompted anger from nearby business owners who say they were not given adequate warning by the City of South Fulton.
Salon NVME owner Destiny Kelly said the roadworks could deter customers, particularly those travelling during the evening rush hour.
“A lot of our clients do like to come after, like 4 p.m., so that’s rush hour time,” she said. “By them having to be in traffic already, that’s going to cause our clients to want to go elsewhere.”
Jahnice Johnson, a cashier at WnB Factory, said management had not understood the scale or length of the closure. “My boss didn’t know it happened,” she said. “I don’t think everybody really knows that it’s going to be closed for that long.”
Fairburn Road closure and bridge replacement
The works form part of the Fairburn Road Improvement Project. The two bridges, which cross North and South Utoy Creek, are being rebuilt at the same time after utility relocation work is completed.
South Fulton Public Works director Antonio Valenzuela said the structures were about 100 years old and showed significant wear. Officials say carrying out both replacements together should shorten the overall construction period and reduce the length of disruption.
Mayor Carmalitha Gumbs met business owners on Friday, October 2, after concerns were raised about communication. She acknowledged that the city had not kept some businesses sufficiently informed.
“Sometimes communication has been off, and we want to make sure we are in the front and talking to you all about these things that impact local businesses here in the community,” Ms Gumbs said.
She said the work was necessary to support South Fulton’s future growth, despite the immediate difficulties for people travelling through the area.
Fairburn Road will remain accessible to residents and businesses up to the construction boundaries, but through traffic will be diverted. The signed route sends drivers along Benjamin E. Mays Drive, Lynhurst Drive and Cascade Road before rejoining Fairburn Road.
MARTA has also listed a diversion for bus route 165, which serves Fairburn Road and Camp Creek Parkway. The temporary change is scheduled to run until April 30, 2027.
City officials said improvements at the Fairburn Road and Cascade Road junction have already been completed, including new pavements, kerbs, stamped concrete and a signal upgrade. The city has not announced any financial assistance for businesses affected by the loss of passing trade.
