Hammond Drive Improvements

Status-Spring 2024: Design progressing to final design. Right of Way staking commenced Feb. 2024 in advance of right of way acquisition phase.

Project Purpose

The City of Sandy Springs has long realized the need to improve mobility and safety along this section of Hammond Drive. In fact, as far back as 1999, Fulton County identified improvements on Hammond Drive as needed to enhance safety and mobility. Over the past several years, the City has held more than five public meetings and multiple neighborhood discussions to solicit resident input into the need and design for the project. In March 2023, the City hosted a project update meeting for the neighborhoods adjacent to the project. Based on traffic data collected in 2019, Hammond Drive between Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive carries approximately 17,500 vehicles daily – a higher volume of traffic than the capacity of a two-lane roadway. Currently, Hammond Drive experiences severe congestion and queuing of traffic, especially during peak commuting hours. The failure to accommodate current and growing future traffic demand along Hammond Drive has led to an increase in neighborhood cut-through traffic and is adversely impacting adjacent roadways. Also, this portion of Hammond Drive lacks sidewalks, does not accommodate MARTA buses very well, and presents challenges in terms of sight distance and visibility for motorists. There is currently no marked crosswalk between the ends of the corridor study area. This conceptual design project will identify and propose a new configuration for Hammond Drive that improves capacity and access for all modes of travel, including automobile, bus, bicycle, and walking. Additional benefits of the project include: • Reduce potential pedestrian and vehicular conflicts • Improve neighborhood connectivity • Improve access for people walking and bicycling • Improve the operations of buses • Reduce cut-through traffic on neighborhood streets • Reduce congestion along Hammond Drive at peak hours

Project Description

The project will add a multi-use path along both sides of Hammond Drive, with dedicated pedestrian crossings at four locations between Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive, improving pedestrian and bicycle movement and safety in the area. The proposed concept includes areas for green space between the roadway and multi-use paths as well as along the south side of the new roadway. The Hammond Drive improvements will help better connect both sides of the Glenridge Hammond neighborhood by providing direct bicycle and pedestrian access from one side of Hammond Drive to the other via an underpass at Kayron Drive. Limited access cul-de-sacs will reduce the potential for cut-through traffic and calm neighborhood traffic in general.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many properties have been acquired? Will the City utilize eminent domain for the remaining properties?

Based on the preliminary design, the City has acquired 34 through voluntary sales. There are 3 remaining parcels to acquire. Final design has not yet been completed. The City will know more about additional properties needed when design has been completed. It is too premature to discuss eminent domain, as it is always viewed as a last resort. It is always the City’s preference to reach mutually agreeable purchases. 

• What is the status of the project?

The project is still in the design stages. It is likely that construction will begin in the next couple of years. 

• How is the project being funded?

The project is being funded through Fulton County Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) collections. TSPLOST 2016 passed in November 2016 and TSPLOST 2021 passed in November 2021. As presented and discussed during the City’s February 2020 Public Information Open House, the project was estimated to cost between $59.6 million and $64.6 million. These projects were approved and funded by the voters, so the City has little flexibility in the execution of the project.

• When is construction expected to start?

A construction schedule has not been identified.

• Will the improvements increase cut-through neighborhood traffic?

Based on traffic data collected, the Hammond Drive corridor between Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive carries approximately 17,500 vehicles daily. At this level of traffic volume, which is higher than the capacity of a two-lane roadway, Hammond Drive experiences severe congestion and queuing of traffic, especially during peak commuting hours. Additionally, historical traffic volumes obtained by the Georgia Department of Transportation indicate that the traffic along Hammond Drive has plateaued at this level for the recent years – again confirming that the traffic along Hammond Drive is at capacity and unable to serve the existing demand. The failure to accommodate the growing traffic demand in the area and along Hammond Drive has led to an increase in neighborhood cut-through traffic and is adversely impacting adjacent roadways and neighborhoods.

• Why is the project needed?

Hammond Drive today carries more traffic than its capacity and, therefore, regularly experiences severe congestion and queuing of traffic. It lacks adequate facilities for people biking and walking. There are no crosswalks between Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive, effectively dividing the neighborhood and requiring people to travel out of their way to cross the road. There are few facilities to support people riding transit, and the current configuration of the road does not accommodate buses very well. Hammond Drive also presents challenges in terms of sight distance and visibility for motorists, due to topography. This is the narrowest section of Hammond Drive (beyond Boylston Drive and Glenridge Drive; Hammond Drive is already four lanes). As a result, this portion of the corridor is often congested at peak hours.

• Project Concept

Public Meetings:

The City of Sandy Springs hosted two (2) Public Information Open House meetings regarding improvements planned for Hammond Drive on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. The sessions provided the community with an opportunity to provide input on the proposed alternatives.  

The first of the two Open House meetings were on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, from 11 am - 1 pm. A second meeting was held that same day from 6 pm - 8 pm. Both meetings provided the same information and displays and took place at Sandy Springs City Hall, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.

The improvements planned will impact Hammond Drive from Roswell Road to Glenridge Drive. Currently, Hammond Drive experiences severe congestion and queuing of traffic, especially during peak commuting hours. The current and growing traffic demand along Hammond Drive has also led to an increase in neighborhood cut-through traffic, and adversely impacts adjacent roadways.

This portion of Hammond Drive also lacks sidewalks and marked crosswalks, does not adequately accommodate MARTA, and presents challenges in terms of visibility for motorists and pedestrians. The conceptual design proposes to improve safety and operational efficiencies and will include multi-use paths, sidewalks, landscaping, pedestrian lighting, and intersection enhancements.

February 26, 2020 Public Meeting Materials:

Hand Out

Comment Card

Project Description and Information

Meeting Presentation

Proposed Concept Design

Meeting Displays

Concept Design Rendering Video: https://youtu.be/-9JP5bJkYKo

Roundabout Video: https://youtu.be/Wz83iVT3V1E

Final Traffic Engineering Report - 2019

February 20, 2019 Project Input Meeting

The City of Sandy Springs hosted a Neighborhood Input Meeting for the Glenridge-Hammond HOA on Feb. 20, 2019, at City Springs. Approximately 100 neighbors attended. Participants considered two questions about a possible road project involving Hammond Drive between Glenridge Road and Hammond Drive: What are your concerns about a project that would redesign Hammond Drive? And what could be done to make this project a neighborhood asset?

A meeting with the general public will be held at a later date.

Report from February 20, 2019 Project Input Meeting: Hammond Drive Corridor Project Neighborhood Meeting Report

Project History

2009: A fact finding Public Information Open House (PIOH) was held on April 13, 2009. An informational handout was presented to attendees. 

2015: Mayor and Council were updated on the project during its meeting on January 6, 2015.

2016: The City Council approve inclusion of Phase 1: Complete design for Hammond Drive to include 4 lanes with sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and transit lanes and acquire right-of-way. as part of the proposed T-SPLOST project list. Prior to voting on approval of the list, the Council was provided an update on a Traffic Study conducted.  The presentation and supporting study are below.

Hammond Drive Traffic Study Presentation_6-7-2016rev

Hammond Drive Traffic Study_2016-06-13

CONCEPT VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9JP5bJkYKo&feature=youtu.be