The project includes the design of a 14 foot wide concrete multi-use path and extending approximately 3.1 miles from the I-75 underpass to the end of the interim Southside trail at Bill Kennedy Way. Additional site elements included planting, lighting, retaining walls, vertical connections to adjoining streets, storm drainage, signage/wayfinding, and the replacement and rehabilitation of several bridges. The design also included streetscape/accessibility improvements on all intersecting streets extending from the Corridor to the nearest intersection or one-quarter mile, whichever was closest.
The Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) is available for viewing here. The report, part of an EPA grant, provides information about any contamination found on site and alternatives for cleaning up any the contamination.
Project Status
- The Southside Trail has project has been broken into five segments.
- Segment 1, originally called Southside Trail – West project, is currently under construction.
- Funds from the Special Service District (SSD), along with federal funding, will cover the remaining phases of the Southside Trail:
- Work on Segments 4 and 5 (between Boulevard and Glenwood Avenue) is expected to be bid in the summer of 2021, with construction mobilizing in early 2022.
- Segments 2 and 3 (nearly 2 miles between Pittsburgh Yards and Boulevard) will follow with a bid date expected in fall of 2022. The City and ABI are applied for a FY21 USDOT RAISE grant in July 2021 for $22 million to support construction of these segments. The cost to construct these segments will be covered by SSD funding. Federal grants will also be used for Segments 2 and 3.
- The drawings for the Southside Trail are at 90% complete and work is in progress to align and confirm budgets and bring the drawings to 100% complete.
- Once construction funding is identified, ABI will need to permit the work, and advertise and contract with a contractor before construction can commence.
- Early preparatory projects will include the relocation of utilities in the corridor, and soil remediation work. Targeting July 2021 for this work to start.
- In July 2020, ABI completed an emergency demolition of the southside corridor bridge over United Avenue. A permanent bridge will be installed as part of trail construction, which is expected to start in 2022 and will require closure of full segments of the trail. Please see this blog post for detour options to navigate the trail around the stairs.
Project Timeline
March 2018
The City of Atlanta and ABI purchase the southside corridor, representing more than 4 miles and 63 acres
August 2019
The Southside Trail opens for public use in an unpaved condition
February 2021
Design 90% complete
May 2021
Interim safety improvements along Bill Kennedy Way (Southside Trail - Segment 6) complete
May 2021
ABI awarded $4 million in grant funding from the Atlanta Regional Commission
July 2021
Tentative start date: utility relocation and remediation Work
Fall 2021
Anticipate permitting / design 100% complete
Last Updated: July 2, 2021
The Southside Trail below interstates 75/85 as seen in fall 2018. (Photo: John Becker)
A view from the Southside Trail in its interim state, east of Boulevard. (Photo: John Becker)
The Southside Trail will connect the Westside and Eastside Trails for over 11 miles of continuous trail. It will navigate through stunning railroad architecture, like this 100+ year old tunnel. (Photo: John Becker)
D.H. Stanton Park viewed from the Southside Interim Trail. (Photo: John Becker)
The Southside Trail opened in an interim state in 2019, which means the old railroad corridor is cleared and graded, but not yet paved. (Photo: John Becker)
United Avenue pedestrian crossing along the Southside Trail
The Southside Trail will connect to bike lanes and pedestrian improvements along Ormewood Avenue via temporary wooden stairs at Mercer Street and a path to Lynwood Street. (Photo: John Becker)
The Southside Trail after rails were cleared in 2018. (Photo: the Sintoses)
An early rendering of the Southside Trail shows the interaction with D. H. Stanton Park to the left and transit along the corridor.
An early rendering shows a transit stop where McDaniel Street meets University Avenue and the Southside Trail.
An artistic rendering shows the Southside Trail where it crosses under interstates 75 / 85, enabling easy pedestrian access between neighborhoods on either side of the Downtown Connector.
The current interim Southside Trail over Metropolitan Parkway.
The Southside Trail splits to go right (north) to meet the current end of the Westside Trail and left (west) as a spur trail to Sylvan Road. (Photo: John Becker)
Rails were removed on the Southside Trail in 2018 to make way for the interim trail, the same year the City of Atlanta and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. bought the 4.5-mile corridor from CSX. (Photo: the Sintoses)
The Southside Trail as it passes across old railroad bridges over Metropolitan Avenue. A temporary set of wooden stairs will allow pedestrians to access the corridor to and from the street. (Photo: the Sintoses)
The downtown skyline and The Beacon can be seen from the Southside Trail above Grant Street. A temporary set of wooden stairs will connect trail users to the shops and dining of The Beacon via Hill Street. (Photo: John Becker)
The Atlanta BeltLine is improving bridge crossing ahead of opening the Southside Trail in an interim state, as seen here over Pryor Road. A temporary set of wooden stairs will connect from Pryor Street to the corridor. (Photo: John Becker)
Once open, the Southside Trail will connect into Glenwood Avenue, offering a connection to all of the shops and restaurants of Glenwood Park as well as a connection to the Eastside Trail. (Photo: the Sintoses)
Shoring work on the eastern side of Metropolitan Parkway in preparation for a new pedestrian bridge, as seen on Aug. 14, 2020.
Shoring work on the western side of Metropolitan Parkway in preparation for a new pedestrian bridge, as seen on Aug. 14, 2020.
The first segment of the Southside Trail seen under construction here looking east alongside Pittsburgh Yards on Aug. 14, 2020.
The first segment of the Southside Trail seen under construction here looking west alongside Pittsburgh Yards on Aug. 14, 2020.
The first segment of the Southside Trail seen under construction here alongside Pittsburgh Yards on Aug. 14, 2020.
