Southwest Atlanta business owners confront city council over construction delays

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Construction crews on Cascade Road in Southwest Atlanta continue to work on road improvements in August 2025.

Credit: Atlanta Department of Transportation

Southwest Atlanta residents are demanding better communication and financial relief from the city. They say ongoing road work in the Cascade Heights neighborhood is negatively impacting businesses and drivers.

Cascade Road is being redesigned as part of the Atlanta Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets program. It’s part of Atlanta’s Vision Zero plan to improve roads for pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists and reach zero traffic deaths in the city by 2040.

Trinket Lewis owns a juice bar on Cascade Road. She told City Council on Monday that construction is hurting her business and costing her money.

“I am a mom of a 10-year-old son. I've had to change my hours because I can't afford after school care,” Lewis said. “I live down the street from the Juice Bar off of Cascade and Lynhurst. I've had to change my tires three times within the last 13 months.”

Lewis estimates she’s seen a 72% drop in sales because of construction.

Devin-Barrington Ward is a community organizer living in Cascade Heights. He said the City Council should be offering financial assistance to affected business like it did after the water main breaks.

“We are tired of being seen as the red-headed stepchild of the city of Atlanta,” Barrington Ward said. “What we need is a transparent and updated timeline for the construction. What we need is a financial recovery fund and grants, not loans offered to the businesses who have been harmed by this project.”

Cascade Road was identified as part of the city’s High Injury Network. The list is part of the Vison Zero plan. It identifies roads with high rates of serious crashes and death.

Design changes by the ATLDOT have delayed construction, but the organization estimates the road will be substantially complete by December.