Atlanta Beltline Design and Construction Updates: February 2023

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.

Northeast Trail

• Northeast Trail – Segment 1: A 90% design package has been received for this segment with 100% design expected in February. The trail runs from the northern end of the Eastside Trail to Westminster Drive with a portion through Piedmont Park. The Beltline continues to work alongside Piedmont Park Conservancy, City of Atlanta Parks Department, and Atlanta Department of Transportation. Construction is expected to bid and start in early 2023 and to take approximately 18 months to complete.

• Northeast Trail – Segment 2: Replacement and repair work is in progress on the existing wood bridge over Clear Creek Bridge. Work on the ramp to Piedmont Avenue continues to be a focus. Granite cladding work is starting, and retaining walls are under construction. Along the already completed portions of the concrete trail, electrical crews are also setting bases and conduit for lighting and cameras, and trees and shrubs are being installed.  This construction work is currently scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2023, with final landscaping to follow in late 2023 and early 2024.

• Northeast Trail – Segment 3: A Preliminary Field Plan Review (for 60% design drawings) took place this month. ABI is coordinating engineering reviews required for a bridge crossing over the CSX railroad. ABI has also coordinated with the Department of Watershed Management and the Brookwood Hills neighborhood regarding the Brookwood Hills Conservation Easement that the mainline trail will be passing through. Investigative work to identify the location of a sewer main line will be in progress soon, as well as geotechnical related boring work for future bridge structures.

• Details on each Northeast Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section: Segment 1, Segment 2, and Segment 3.

  

  Northeast Trail looking south behind Ansley Square Shopping Center, toward the Piedmont Avenue bridge. March 1, 2023.

  

  Northeast Trail looking north behind Ansley Square Shopping Center. March 1, 2023.

  

  Northeast Trail over Clear Creek, behind Ansley Mall. March 1, 2023.

  

  Wooden trestle over Clear Creek, behind Ansley Mall. March 1, 2023.

Eastside Trail

• Ponce de Leon Avenue Streetscapes: The Ponce streetscape project will provide an improved pedestrian and bicycle connection along Ponce to the Beltline running from Boulevard to Freedom Parkway. JHC, the project contractor, is moving west on the north side of Ponce from Freedom Parkway. This is an 18-month schedule, and the contractor is approximately 20% complete with the work. Work is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2024. A Northeast Study Group meeting took place on February 16th with updates on the project. Download the presentation and watch the meeting recording. Updates are posted at www.beltline.org/ponce.

Southside Trail

• Southside Trail – Segments 2 – 3: The construction of Segments 2 and 3 is on track to be bid for construction in September 2023, contingent upon federal review and release. This segment is tied to federal dollars and the federal construction process.

• Southside Trail – Segments 4 – 5: A groundbreaking celebration will take place on March 13 at 1 p.m.! Everyone is invited to join Mayor Dickens and the Atlanta Beltline team at the northern end of the Southside Trail, just south of Glenwood Avenue. Groundbreaking event details are here. Reeves Young Construction has been released to develop shop drawings and material orders to get ready for mobilization. Fiber relocation work is wrapping up and is expected to be complete by late March or early April. At that time, Reeves Young will mobilize the site to begin work. We will keep our community members informed as soon as we have a confirmed timeline. A Southeast Study Group meeting took place on January 31st to introduce Reeves Young. Download the presentation and watch the recording.

• Details on each Southside Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section: Segments 2, 3, 4, and 5.

  

  Unpaved Southside Trail looking north towards Berne Street. Photo by Erin Sintos. January 24, 2023.

  

  Preparation work underway on the Southside Trail. Photo by Erin Sintos. January 24, 2023.

  

  Fiber relocation work on the Southside Trail. Photo by Erin Sintos. January 24, 2023.

  

  The Southside Trail will be the next multi-use trail to go into construction. The Strategic Implementation Plan will update the roadmap to completing the Atlanta Beltline’s programmatic elements. Photo by Erin Sintos. January 24, 2023.

  

  Southside Trail looking north to the bridge over Ormewoood Avenue. Photo by Erin Sintos. January 24, 2023.

  

  Fiber relocation on the Southside Trail. Photo by Erin Sintos. January 24, 2023.

  

  The Southside Trail bridge over United Avenue will be rebuilt with construction. Photo by Erin Sintos. January 24, 2023.

Westside Trail

• Westside Trail – Segment 4: A groundbreaking ceremony is set for March 22 at 11 a.m.! Please join Mayor Dickens, elected officials, community members, and the Atlanta Beltline team as we celebrate going into construction on this final, 1.3-mile segment of the Westside Trail. Details will be posted here on our events calendar as they are finalized. This segment begins at the current Westside Trail terminus near Lena Street and Washington Park and extends north to Law Street where the trail ties into the Westside Beltline Connector and the completed Westside Trail – Segment 3. The construction was awarded to Astra Group. Mobilization and trail clearing have already begun next to Washington Park. A Westside Study Group meeting to introduce the community to the contractor took place on February 2nd. Download the presentation and watch the meeting recording. This project is a complicated design that includes elevated structures and bridges, and we expect it to be complete in summer of 2025.

• Details on this Westside Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section for Segment 4.

• Westview access point: This project will provide a new access point to the Westside Trail, with a new protected crossing across Ralph David Abernathy and a ramp connection to the Beltline. The GDOT permits have been received and ABI will bid this work for construction within the next 30-60 days.

  

  Westside Trail – Segment 4 towards the northern end of Washington Park. February 28, 2023.

  

  Westside Trail – Segment 4 towards the northern end of Washington Park. February 28, 2023.

  

  Stakes indicate where the contractor will place erosion control fencing for construction. February 28, 2023.

  

  Westside Trail – Segment 4 continues through the woods, where stakes indicate where erosion fencing will be placed. February 28, 2023.

Northwest Trail

• ABI and PATH have confirmed a preferred alignment for the NW Trail, running between Huff Road and MARTA Lindbergh, linking up with the existing Beltline Tanyard Creek Trail. Because there is no continuous inactive railroad corridor, the trail alignment is a combination of dedicated greenways and protected side paths within public and private rights-of-way.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 1: 0.8 miles in length. Design is 30% complete. New survey work is underway due to an alignment adjustment at Peachtree Park Apartments. A revised 30% design set will be submitted in April.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 2: 0.7 miles in length. Survey and other fieldwork is in progress and is expected to be complete by the end of March.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 3: 1.2 miles in length. Design drawings are expected to be 60% complete by the end of April.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 4: 0.9 miles in length. Survey and field work is complete on Segment 4, and early design work is in progress.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 5: 0.7 miles in length. Design is 90% complete. Real estate work is currently underway and our Q3 target date for construction is on schedule. A Northside Study Group meeting was held on February 6th to update the community on progress. Download the presentation and watch the meeting recording here.

Northside Trail

• CSX has been replacing the elevated railroad bridge and trestle that runs between Tanyard Creek Park and Ardmore Park and over the Atlanta Beltline Northside Trail. Our Atlanta Beltline team recently met with CSX executive leadership to discuss future Beltline projects that may interface with CSX rail lines. During that conversation, we briefed CSX on the desire to address this crossing as a future project. If design and construction funding is identified for this project, an engineer will be hired to design solutions to improve trail conditions where the trail crosses under the CSX line.  At that time, we would work with engineers and CSX to address the rip rap (boulders) recently installed adjacent to the trail, and to address erosion issues caused by the creek along the trail. Please reach out to tanyardpark@brasfieldgorrie.com with any questions regarding the current status of the project.

Our first Quarterly Briefing of 2023 took place on February 9. Download the presentation and watch the recording here. All upcoming and past public meetings can be found at www.beltline.org/meetings.