The Peachtree Creek Greenway Connector Bridge picked up a second major funding commitment on July 23, when the Decide DeKalb Development Authority Board voted to award Brookhaven a $588,168 grant for design work on the planned pedestrian-bicycle crossing over Interstate 85.

The money comes from the Briarcliff North Druid Hills Tax Allocation District's Urban Renewal Fund and will cover design and other soft costs for the 14-foot-wide, grade-separated bridge. It is separate from the $15.8 million Emory University pledged on July 14 through a memorandum of understanding committing the university to payments in lieu of taxes over 10 years.

Together, the two funding sources mean no residential property taxes will pay for the bridge's design or construction, according to the city's announcement.

"The PCG Connector pedestrian bridge will help overcome one of the most significant physical barriers in our community, creating a safer connection between Executive Park, Emory, and the Peachtree Creek Greenway," Mayor John Park said in the announcement.

The bridge will span I-85 to connect Emory's Executive Park campus on the east side of the interstate to the Peachtree Creek Greenway on the west, giving pedestrians and cyclists along the Buford Highway corridor direct access to jobs, health care and trails. It will also link to DeKalb County's broader Trails and Greenways Network, the Atlanta Beltline and PATH400.

Dorian DeBarr, president and CEO of the Decide DeKalb Development Authority, said the grant reflects the county's need to invest in infrastructure that keeps pace with growth. Mayor Pro Tempore John Funny, who represents District 4, called the bridge critical infrastructure for the North Druid Hills corridor's long-term vision.

The Briarcliff North Druid Hills TAD, created in 2007 to promote economic vitality and infrastructure improvements, has funded trail projects before. In March 2026, the same TAD provided $951,600 for South Peachtree Creek Trail Segments 3 and 5.

Brookhaven plans to return to the Decide DeKalb Board in late 2027 to request a supplemental TAD award estimated at roughly $5.35 million for construction costs. Right-of-way acquisitions, easements and environmental permitting are expected to wrap up in 2027, followed by final design and GDOT authorization, according to the city's project timeline. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2028, with completion targeted for 2029.