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Atlanta wants to find and pave its last dirt roads

Thomas Wheatley

A dark green and black race car plows through a pea gravel track. — Obviously not a pea gravel road in the city limits but you get the idea. Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

City leaders want Atlanta to leave the 19th century behind and pave the remaining dirt or gravel streets hidden around town.

Why it matters: A comprehensive inventory of Atlanta's dirt and gravel roads could ease frequent complaints from residents and concerns from first responders.

Zoom in: Atlanta City Council member Antonio Lewis and colleagues want the city's Department of Transportation to find all of the "unimproved, unpaved, dirt, gravel, and rocky roads" in their districts and to recommend fixes.

Catch up quick: In 2025, southwest Atlanta residents demanded the city pave two unimproved streets that caused delivery trucks and residents' cars to get stuck, Fox 5 reports.

Reality check: The transportation department is aware of the dirt and gravel roads; the City Council is considering renewing a contract to improve several.

In the weeds: Council member Alex Wan pushed for the inventory to cover the entire city, not just a few districts.

Council member Dustin Hillis also called for projects to be prioritized according to the number of residents who live along the unpaved road.

What's next: Full Council will consider the legislation when members return from the summer recess on Aug. 3.

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Atlanta wants to find and pave its last dirt roads

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