ATL Standard

Businesses along Cheshire Bridge Road are grappling with a decrease in foot traffic due to repeated closures prompted by fires near homeless encampments. This situation has led concerned business owners to urgently call for solutions, emphasizing the pressing need for support from local authorities.

Atlanta News First reported that a fire broke out beneath a bridge on Cheshire Bridge Road in northeast Atlanta, eliciting a response from the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department as crews fought against a substantial blaze. Despite rapid containment, the integrity of the bridge is now under scrutiny, leading to its closure for inspection. An investigation into the fire's cause is ongoing, but it is suspected to have been ignited by homeless individuals seeking warmth under the bridge structure.

Battalion Chief Matt Driver was quoted by Atlanta News First saying: "It’s one of those things that when it gets cold like this, people are going to do whatever they have to do to stay warm. So, it is a possibility." Local residents' concerns about the homeless population are escalating, stressing the need for immediate action as this marks the second such incident within a week.

During the bridge's reopening ceremony in April, as reported by Atlanta First News, Mayor Dickens said: "The first lesson is to get as many people housed as possible and to go through our bridges and underpasses to make sure we work with the Georgia Department of Transportation to clean those areas out so that we prevent fires from happening."

Fox 5 reported that nearby business owners expressed worries over reduced traffic flow, highlighting their dependence on passing vehicles. As closures disrupt routes for potential customers, apprehensions grow over future incidents negatively affecting their businesses. Officials from the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) stated: "We thank the community for its patience as ATLDOT assesses the recent fire damage and structural integrity of Cheshire Bridge. ATLDOT is collaborating with various agencies and partners in a coordinated effort to address this situation. The current road closure and detours remain in place with traffic signal adjustments to accommodate the new traffic patterns. GPS applications have been updated to reflect the closure and alternate routes. Further information will be shared as it becomes available."