Cheshire Bridge Road fire: Span could partially reopen soon

ATLANTA - Barricades have blocked Cheshire Bridge Road for the past few months after a fire under a span damaged a portion of the overpass roadway, but soon the road is expected to partially reopen.

The closure has been difficult for businesses like the Laundry Lounge on Cheshire Bridge Road.

"The hits keep on rolling, so this is difficult to deal with," said Laundry Lounge owner Chris Stark.

Stark and his wife opened the laundromat last August after relocating from the Ansley Mall area. He says things were going well until Cheshire Bridge Road was closed near Faulkner Road in December after the bridge fire. He says business is down 10% to 15%.

"It's devastating to our business, there are bills to be paid, there's equipment notes that we owe," he said. "Just really difficult as we're trying to build our customer base off debt and essentially just cut them off from being able to get here."

Before the bridge can reopen, Atlanta City Council member Alex Wan says a small portion needs to be demolished and rebuilt. Contractors also need to shore up other sections. The councilman says the city should have a lane or two open in April.

"It is an inconvenience for us, we think a lot about the businesses and other people that live on this road and how bad it is for them," said Jay Johnson.

Officials believe a homeless camp under the bridge is to blame for the fire. While the bridge is closed to cars, trains are still moving through. The Piedmont Heights Alliance says the train company, CSX, and the Atlanta Department of Transportation are working together to stop future encampments, including adding fencing, lighting, and sprinklers.

"Unless we're actually deterring them and saying, ‘Stop,’ and we're providing access to other housing, it's going to continue to happen during the winter months," Stark said.

While part of the bridge is set to reopen next month, there is no timeline for when all lanes will reopen.

Fire blamed for Cheshire Bridge Road closure

Drivers have been asked to avoid the busy Atlanta roadway since the morning of Dec. 20, when firefighters arrived at a raging blaze under the bridge between Faulkner Road and Piedmont Road.

While firefighters were able to put out the flames after a short time, officials said the bridge was compromised and not safe to drive over.

This bridge spans over the section of railroad tracks just south of the newly replaced bridge, which was destroyed in a massive fire in August 2021.

With traffic diverted into residential neighborhoods, many business owners in the area are worried that the long repair times could devastate their businesses in the way the previous fire had done.

Cheshire Bridge Road detours

Piedmont Avenue NE northbound

• Continue north past Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
• Turn right onto Lindbergh Way NE eastbound
• Lindbergh Dr NE intersects Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

Piedmont Road NE southbound at Cheshire Bridge Road NE

• Continue south past Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
• Turn left onto E Morningside Dr NE eastbound
• Continue eastbound as E Morningside Dr NE becomes E Rock Springs Rd NE
• Turn left onto Johnson Rd NE northbound
• Turn left onto Lenox Rd NE northbound
• Lenox Rd NE intersects Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

Piedmont Circle NE eastbound at Cheshire Bridge Road NE

• Turn left onto Piedmont Rd NE northbound
• Turn right onto Lindbergh Way NE eastbound
• Lindbergh Dr NE intersects Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

Cheshire Bridge Road NE southbound at Lindbergh Drive NE

• Turn right onto Lindbergh Dr NE westbound
• Turn Left onto Piedmont Rd NE southbound
• Piedmont Rd NE connects to Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

Cheshire Bridge Road NE southbound at Woodland Ave NE

• Turn left onto Woodland Ave NE eastbound
• Turn right onto Lenox Rd NE southbound
• Turn right onto Johnson Rd NE southbound
• Turn right onto E Rock Springs Rd NE westbound
• Continue westbound as E Rock Springs Rd NE becomes E Morningside Dr NE
• Turn right onto Piedmont Ave NE northbound
• Piedmont Ave NE connects to Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

Woodland Avenue NE westbound

• Turn right onto Cheshire Bridge Rd NE northbound
• Turn left onto Lindbergh Dr NE westbound
• Turn left onto Piedmont Rd NE southbound
• Piedmont Rd NE connects to Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

Lavista Road NE westbound

• Continue west past Cheshire Bridge Rd NE onto Lindbergh Dr NE
• Turn left onto Piedmont Rd NE southbound
• Piedmont Rd NE connects to Cheshire Bridge Rd NE

Wellbourne Drive NE northbound

• Turn left onto Cheshire Bridge Rd NE westbound
• Turn right onto Piedmont Rd NE northbound
• Turn right onto Lindbergh Way NE eastbound
• Lindbergh Dr NE intersects Cheshire Bridge Rd NE