Atlanta BeltLine Design and Construction Updates: April 2022

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. Click here to catch up on March’s design and construction updates.

Northeast Trail

• Northeast Trail – Segment 2: Construction started in April on the southern portion of this trail build-out (Ansley to Westminster) starting at the timber bridge over Clear Creek. The unpaved trail will close in that section in mid-May. Erosion control and arborist work will be the first to take place, followed by major construction activities. A community meeting took place to introduce the contractor, Reeves Young, to the community and discuss project details on April 13 at 6:30 p.m. Watch the meeting and download the presentation. The presentation includes photos and plan drawings with construction highlights.
• Details on each Northeast Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section: Segment 1, Segment 2, Segments 3.

Eastside Trail

• Transit planning: Contractors for MARTA completed geotechnical work on the eastside corridor that began in February as part of transit planning for the future light rail system.
• Freedom Parkway spur trail: Installation of light poles and cameras on the Freedom Parkway/Elizabeth Street spur trail was completed as part of ABI’s ongoing efforts to enhance the trail user experience on connector trails.
• Ponce Streetscapes: It is anticipated that a contract will be completed this summer for a construction firm to execute the streetscape improvements. Bids were received for the work on April 13^th. Community members and property owners will be notified three weeks in advance of the start of work.

Southside Trail

• Southside Trail – Segment 1: There are a number of follow-on projects in the works along this segment of the Southside Trail. Design and permitting work is complete for a connecting sidewalk at Manford Road and bidding is in progress.  A drainage improvement project will be underway in the next few weeks along the Rangewater development to better manage storm water that is following onto the Rangewater jobsite.  GDOT has also requested some punchlist work be completed around the Metropolitain bridge and that will involve short term lane closures over the next two months so that additional concrete can be poured on at the bridge abutments.
• Southside Trail – Segments 2 – 3: The construction of Segments 2 and 3, which is tied to federal dollars and the federal construction process, is targeting a construction bid date of summer 2023, with construction mobilization expected by fall 2023. On April 20, Senator Warnock and Clyde Higgs held a press conference to highlight the recent $5 million in federal funding secured for this section of trail.
• Southside Trail – Segments 4 – 5: The Southside Trail Segments 4 and 5 have moved into the shovel ready phase of work, where permitting, final real estate transactions, and utility relocation work is completed prior to the bid being let for construction. Kimley Horn, the design engineering consultant, has completed Segments 4 and 5 drawings, and has started permitting work for this section of trail.   An Invitation to Bid for construction will follow the completion of brownfield remediation and two fiber relocation projects. Fiber relocation work will start in May with and is expected to be complete by August. The trail will remain open for use, with possible short term intermittent or full closures. Brownfield remediation work is under contract to Reeves Young and is also expected to start in April. The Segment 4 and 5 project scope includes the rebuilding of the bridge of United Avenue.
• Details on each Southside Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section: Segments 2, 3, 4, and 5.

  

  

  

Westside Trail

• Westside Trail – Segment 3: Construction on this 1.2-mile segment is substantially complete, except for the permitting and bridge work over the railroad corridor at Marietta Boulevard. Lights, cameras, plantings, and guardrails are installed along the majority of the trail. Milling and paving of Marietta Boulevard took place in April. The bridge work is currently on hold until permits are finalized with Norfolk Southern railroad. Once railroad permits and contracts are executed, it will take 2-3 months to complete the project.
• Westside Trail – Segment 4: The design team has delivered 90% drawings for this segment of the Westside Trail that will connect from Washington Park to the southern end of Segment 3. The team is working to accelerate final real estate transactions and permitting to expedite a construction start for this segment.
• Details on each Westside Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section: Segment 3 and Segment 4.

  

  

  

Northwest Trail

• ABI and PATH Foundation will host a community meeting on May 12 to present and discuss the results of the Northwest Trail Study. The Northwest Trail is a critical quadrant of the Atlanta BeltLine loop connecting from the area of West Marietta and Huff Road over to Lindbergh MARTA station. The original vision for the Atlanta BeltLine trail depended on acquiring abandoned and under-utilized rail corridors that formed three-quarters of a circle around the urban core of Atlanta. The northwest quadrant of the BeltLine has no such abandoned rail corridor available and, therefore, is one of the most complicated sections to deliver. This study will present an evaluation of the most feasible, constructible corridors for the BeltLine Northwest Trail out of those that have been under study since last year, taking into consideration the long-term benefits for the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.

Northside Trail

• Information can be found here regarding CSX’s work to replace the wooden railroad trestle that runs between Tanyard Creek Park and Ardmore Park and over the Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail. The work is expected to last through 2022. Please reach out to tanyardpark@brasfieldgorrie.com with any questions.