The finished crosswalks have the look of brick but are more durable.

TIFTON — Downtown just got a little more walkable after 16 crosswalks were given a facelift.

According to Downtown Development Authority Director Abbey McLaren, the 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 5,760 vehicles per day between Third and Fifth Street, coupled with the increase in residential and pedestrian activity, the DDA decided to take on the tasks of installing the crosswalks,” McLaren said in an email. “The crosswalks were installed in phases, and there are now 16 crosswalks throughout Downtown Tifton.”

The new crosswalks look like brick but are actually preformed thermoplastic material that is skid resistant and durable.  

This material is first placed atop the asphalt, heated and then stamped to produce the desired brick-like pattern.

McLaren said that the new crosswalks feature a herringbone pattern similar to the design aesthetic of the sidewalks in downtown and are expected to help calm traffic and make crossing streets safer for pedestrians by helping to alert drivers that they are approaching a crosswalk.

She also said that this project was funded in part with a USDA grant and capital improvement funds provided the Tifton Downtown Development Authority.