Construction Causes Change in Traffic at Confederate

Guardsmen, civilian employees, and visitors to the Confederate Avenue complex will find themselves entering and exiting the through another gate beginning Saturday. 

From June 5 until further notice, traffic that normally uses the Lester Avenue gate will be closed. The city of Atlanta is constructing storm sewer and other utility lines beneath Lester Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood. The project is part of a larger infrastructure plan to support systems that are not working or are in disrepair. 

To minimize traffic congestion at the Lester Avenue gate, Gate 1 between the Georgia Public Safety Building and the Georgia Department of Defense offices (Bldg No. 1) is being reopened. The gate was closed for security reasons after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Gate 1, said Lt. Col. Bruce Berger plans and programs director for the state DoD's Construction and Facilities Management Office, is the primary entrance for employees and other visitors to the complex. 

Berger is the Point of contact for the city of Atlanta. Questions about gate closings and opening should be directed to Donnie Apted at 678-569-6513 or Lt. Col. Tom Blackstock at 678-569-6526.

Berger added that Gate 2, located behind the Georgia DoD offices also will be opened, and used mostly for truck and large vehicle traffic, as well as overflow traffic from Gate 1 and as an exit from the complex. 

For emergency purposes, Lester Avenue and the eastern gate that is usually locked in the side area of the Department of Public Safety remain available, upon special coordination, Berger said. Everyone, he said, is reminded that all gates are subject to be used for emergencies as well as closed for security reasons.

As for parking, Berger explained, "Though we will lose some personally owned vehicle parking on the west side street of Buildings No. 1 and No. 2, parking on the reservation remains adequate to support our population."