Augusta city leaders discuss downtown parking project changes

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta leaders discussed adding changes to the TIA Projects that spread across downtown on Thursday.

John Ussery of the Traffic Engineering Division presented a plan that would add a night shift for construction workers downtown. Right now, they only work a day shift.

Ussery said this could potentially shave a year off of the completion date, which is currently sometime in 2028, but would add $13 million to the project cost.

Commissioners did not decide on the change on Thursday, moving the item to July 8.

Director of Engineering Hameed Malik recommended moving forward with the plan.

The project is already causing headaches for business owners as traffic cones and equipment have piled up.

“If you go down to 13th Street, beyond 13th, down to St. Sebastian, all the way to 15th, how long has that been tore up,” said Marty Koger, owner of Tip Top Taps. “Is that the way it’s going to look up here too?”

“They don’t realize how much they are affecting people who live and walk down here, how much they’re affecting our lives, our income, our living,” said Michelle Tiedeman, Halo Salon and Spa Master cosmetologist.

Koger disagrees with moving parking to different streets.

“If you ask me what they should be doing is moving the traffic to Greene and to Reynolds. Use Greene to go east and Reynolds to go west. That will take a tremendous burden off the traffic here on Broad Street, and then you can make it a pedestrian-friendly culture, which is what we need,” said Koger.

Tiedeman thinks the city doesn’t realize how they are affecting people with the project.

“It seems small for them, but it’s big for us,” said Tiedeman.

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