Atlanta BeltLine Design and Construction Updates: April 2021

Below you will find recent updates and photos of each of our Atlanta BeltLine projects in construction or design along with links to get more general information about each project. Additionally, you can explore current design and construction projects via map and list view here. These projects play a pivotal role in furthering the Atlanta Beltline vision to be the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable city life. 

All upcoming and past public meetings (still being held virtually) can be found at www.beltline.org/meetings. Our second Quarterly Briefing will take place on June 10, 2021 via Zoom and Facebook with a phone call-in option. Click here to catch up on March’s design and construction updates.

Atlanta BeltLine design and construction updates April 2021
Atlanta BeltLine design and construction updates April 2021

Northeast Trail

  • Northeast Trail – Segment 2, Phase I: This segment of the paved, multi-use trail opened to the public in April in an advanced interim state.

    Northeast Trail looking north from Montgomery Ferry Road. March 2021.
    Northeast Trail looking north from Montgomery Ferry Road. March 2021.
  • Northeast Trail – Segment 2, Phase II: Permitting is underway for this section to extend Phase I for the full 1.2 miles between Westminster Drive and Mayson Street and to build out the remaining elements of Phase I (lighting, security cameras, and landscaping). The drawings are at 90% complete and work is in progress to confirm budgets and bring the drawings to 100% complete.
  • Northeast Trail – Segments 3-6: Conversations continue with Norfolk Southern Railway on potential alignments for trail and transit around I-85 and Armor-Ottley on Segment 3 of the trail. Two options for crossing the railroad corridor have been submitted to Norfolk Southern for review. Design work continues to progress for segments 4, 5, and 6.
  • Details on each Northeast Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section: Segment 1, Segment 2, Segments 3-6.

Eastside Trail

Eastside Trail and Historic Fourth Ward Park connection

Eastside Trail and Historic Fourth Ward Park connection

Eastside Trail and Historic Fourth Ward Park connection

  • Chimney Swift Towers: Installation of Chimney Swift towers is underway as part of a partnership between ABI and the Audubon Society. The towers provide Chimney Swifts with nesting habitat and are being installed near Ford Factory Lofts on the Eastside Trail and near Murphy Crossing on the Westside Trail. Chimney Swifts often nest in chimneys, hollow trees, tree cavities, or caves and the wooden structures provided and installed by Audubon mimic the natural nesting structures.

Southside Trail

  • Southside TrailSegment 1: Pouring of the concrete trail is well underway on this 0.8-mile section, which is expected to be complete later this summer. Landscaping will follow by Trees Atlanta after the trail is open to the public. A Southwest + Southeast Study Group meeting took place on March 25 with updates on construction, the United Avenue bridge, utility relocation, and brownfield remediation. Download the presentation here and watch the Facebook Live broadcast here.
    United Avenue bridge: 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.
  • Details on each Southside Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section: Segment 1 (West Segment) and Segments 2, 3, 4, and 5.
    Southside Trail looking east / southeast along the curve from the Westside Trail in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking east / southeast along the curve from the Westside Trail in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking west toward Allene Avenue in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking west toward Allene Avenue in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail at Metropolitan Parkway
    Southside Trail bridges over Metropolitan Parkway in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking east from the bridges over Metropolitan Parkway in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking east from the bridges over Metropolitan Parkway in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking west across the bridges over Metropolitan Parkway in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking west across the bridges over Metropolitan Parkway in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking east towards Pittsburgh Yards in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking east towards Pittsburgh Yards in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.

    Southside Trail looking east / southeast over Pittsburgh Yards in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.
    Southside Trail looking east / southeast over Pittsburgh Yards in early April 2021. Photo courtesy of Astra Group.

Bill Kennedy Way

  • Final interim safety improvements to Bill Kennedy Way, notably the bridgework over I-20, should be complete in May with new pedestrian and vehicular patterns in full operation. ABI will be meeting with City of Atlanta to review final revisions to traffic and trail signage. More details on traffic flow can be found here. Trees Atlanta has installed landscaping in the concrete planters that serve as buffers between Faith and Glenwood Avenues. A Southeast Study Group meeting was held on March 18. Download the presentation here and watch the Facebook Live broadcast here.
    Bill Kennedy Way interim safety improvements. April 28, 2021.
    Bill Kennedy Way interim safety improvements. April 28, 2021.

    Bill Kennedy Way safety improvements in April 2021
    Bill Kennedy Way interim safety improvements on the bridge over I-20. April 28, 2021.

Westside Trail

  • Westside Trail – Segment 3: This segment is 1.2 miles long and runs from Law Street to Huff Road, utilizing Marietta Boulevard right of way. Construction is now underway by the PATH Foundation, beginning with milling the road, and we encourage everyone to exercise caution when in the area. The multi-use trail is anticipated to be complete by early 2022.
  • Details on each Westside Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section: Segment 3 and Segment 4. Segments 1 and 2 are the newly opened Westside BeltLine Connector.

Northwest Trail

3 thoughts on this article. Join the discussion below

  1. This map is so well designed! Sometimes it’s hard to really understand what’s happening on some of the maps I’ve seen. Kudos to the designer.

  2. More updates on the rest of the Southside Trail, please. SST 2 – 4 aren’t referenced here. What is the status of the design? What about the funding? — My understanding is that we failed to get $16m needed, but unclear if that was to complete the entire SST.

    1. Hi Hew, here is a link to updates on each of the sections: https://beltline.org/2021/03/04/southside-trail-segments-2-3-4-5/
      This is part of our larger section with design and construction updates: https://beltline.org/the-project/design-construction/
      We don’t always include an update on every segment in the monthly blog posts if there aren’t any updates from the previous month, but aim to link to the design and construction section of the site.
      Hope that helps!
      Jenny

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