On April 24, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. President & CEO Clyde Higgs announced another historic moment for the BeltLine. Southside Trail — Segments 2 and 3, which were originally set to be completed in June 2026, have been fast-tracked for construction and will be open within the first three months of 2026.
Southside Trail — Segments 2 and 3 will begin at Pittsburgh Yards® and run for 1.9 miles to Boulevard, where they will meet with Southside Trail — Segments 4 and 5 (set to open in summer 2025). The addition of these segments will mark 17.9 miles of continuous paved BeltLine Trail, including 16.3 miles of mainline trail and 1.6 miles of the Westside Connector Trail. It will also be the first full connection between the Eastside and Westside Trails.
Once complete, these segments will provide residents and visitors will a safe way to navigate under 16 lanes of I-85/I-75, active freight rail, and more. It will connect to several Atlanta Public Schools, providing students at Carver High School and Slater Elementary with a safer, easier way to commute. The mainline and connector trails will also provide access to some of the city’s most popular parks and destinations including Washington Park, Westside Park, Piedmont Park, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“By accelerating the completion of the longest continuous stretch of the BeltLine trail yet, we are accelerating equal access to economic prosperity and some of the best natural beauty Atlanta has to offer,” said Atlanta Mayor and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Board member Andre Dickens. “From our federal and non-profit partners to our engineers and contractors, this has truly been a group project. Thank you to everyone involved in creating safer, healthier and more connected communities in our city.”
The accelerated construction schedule also means the segments will be complete ahead of Atlanta’s eight World Cup soccer matches that begin in early June.
“We wanted to announce this construction plan as early as possible so that the neighborhoods and small businesses along the trail can maximize the opportunity that FIFA will bring,” said Higgs. “This will be a momentous milestone for us. To have more than 16 continuous miles of mainline trail completed of our 22-mile loop will be a gamechanger. People will be able to ride bikes, roll, run, walk, socialize, and commute along the completed, continuous trail, allowing Atlantans and visitors to discover historic neighborhoods, BeltLine arts, retailers, businesses, and destinations along the way.”
The BeltLine will ultimately extend for 22 miles of mainline trail, connecting more than 45 neighborhoods along former railroad tracks, with an additional 11 miles of connector trails. All 22 miles of mainline trail are expected to be finished in 2030.
