TIFTON — Next time you’re downtown, look down.

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) began working in 2018 to research the need for visually identifiable crosswalks in downtown. Considering that Main Street is a US and state route with an Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) of 5760 vehicles per day between Third and Fifth Street, the DDA decided to take on the tasks of installing crosswalks. They are now in place at 2nd Street and Love; 3rd Street and Main and across Main Street at the Tift Theater.

Downtown Development Authority Board Member, Mary Glynn Hendricks, said, “one of the top goals of the DDA is to contribute as many aesthetically-pleasing elements as possible to our Downtown. The crosswalk project has been more than a year in planning, and we are very pleased with the completion of this phase.”

The DDA chose Asphalt Concepts, Inc. to install the asphalt surfacing materials that appear as inlaid brick but at a savings in labor and materials. The crosswalks should last for years to come.

These new crosswalks feature a herringbone brick pattern similar to the design aesthetic of the sidewalks in downtown and can act as traffic calming devices to alert the vehicular driver that they are approaching a pedestrian crosswalk.

Abbey McLaren, Director of Economic Development for the Downtown Development Authority, said, “With new development and the number of downtown shops, eateries, and living spaces, pedestrian crossings is on the rise. These crosswalks were created to offer a more secure walking environment for pedestrians, and that’s our top priority.”

This project is funded in part with a USDA grant and capital improvement funds provided the Tifton Downtown Development Authority. The project will be installed in phases with the first phase completed yesterday. That cost was approximately $55,000 utilizing a USDA grant that was received for a total of $99,000. The DDA is discussing adding a few additional crosswalks and perhaps a center logo at 3rd and Main to use the remainder of the grant funds.

Questions should be directed to Chandler Day, Marketing, Main Street, & Public Relations Manager, at (229) 391-3978.