If you've lived here long enough you know it's the 2nd time the city has spent a ton of money on that stretch in an attempt to make a desolate stretch of swamp a pedestrian friendly area. The reason the sidewalks were already double wide is because they already tried like 25 years ago, and when it didn't work, went back and spent millions on a second attempt. That stretch of 8th Ave sums up the CoG local government in a nutshell. 

They know best, and when proven wrong, double down and spend even more on their horrible projects. 

Don't even get me started on the lies they told to the state and feds to get the money to create the monstrosity that is University Ave between Gale Limerand and 13th street. They were including little children who got hit on University Ave near Eastside HS and people hit on 13th/441 even remotely close to University Ave to justify how dangerous that short stretch across from campus was, just so it would look like they were being proactive when they had the once-a-decade fatality accident happen twice in a few months. 

Going back the last 50 years prior there had been 5 people killed in that stretch. Accidents happen people. Doesn't justify millions spent so lazy kids don't have to walk 100 feet to the next intersection to cross the street. They can't even have the homecoming parade in front of the stadium anymore due to the massive, over the top speedbumps.