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Schools

A New Look to Emory Village

An update guaranteed to improve your commute

The beginning of every school year heralds a fresh start and a new look. Whether it’s a new backpack or briefcase, it’s time for an update.

This fall, the neighborhood update to notice is at Emory Village, where the long-awaited roundabout is nearing completion.

The construction began over a year ago at the intersection of North Oxford and North Decatur Rd. The $3 million project was initiated as part of Dekalb County’s plan for street and traffic improvements, aimed to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety. 

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The intersection, which faces the gates of , was notorious for long lights and longer waits. The construction process seemed to slow things down even further. 

Now that the roundabout is operational, the improvements are immediately discernable. 

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Alliance to Improve Emory Village President Lois Berthaume said the traffic flow has "already substantially improved" and "it moves much more fluidly but slowly and in a safe way.” 

Even though sidewalks are still being built, pedestrians are already noticing improvements. 

“It’s nice to be able to walk through the roundabout and have cars stop for you,” Mark Stoholski, a graduate student at Emory University said.

Local businesses are also feeling the benefits.  

Dale Donchey, co-owner of , admits that while the construction may have slowed down some of their customers, it was tough to gauge how much it affect business.  

"Overall the construction wasn’t that hard on us," he said. "Because we’re a new business, there’s no way for us to know how much the construction period impeded customers from coming in, but the new roundabout looks so much better and it’s now much easier for pedestrians from the university to reach us.”

There are also environmental benefits from the Emory Village Project.

Berthaume said the roundabout "decreases idling time at the intersection which reduces car fumes, and frustration.” 

The last phase of the project is a public park near the roundabout, off North Oxford Road. 

This new green space will include a well for watering Emory Village and park vegetation in an effort to improve the sustainability of the area.  Fifty trees will be planted around the site as well. 

As part of their commitment to sustainability, the Alliance will add a recycled art piece to the park later this year. 

While excavating the park site, workers discovered steel beams from the Atlanta trolley line, which stopped running in the late 1940s.  The Alliance saved these artifacts to use in the art piece, which will create a link between Atlanta’s past and these community improvements.

For more information about Emory Village project, visit the Alliance to Improve Emory Village website.

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