Atlanta Beltline Design and Construction Updates: April 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 100% design package has been received for this segment. 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 out for bid, and work is expected to start by early summer.  The schedule to complete construction is approximately 12-18 months.

• Northeast Trail – Segment 2: Repair work on the timber bridge is now complete, the trail is poured on the bridge, and work is moving to the wing walls. The planting of grass and shrubs will continue this spring. A final GDOT permit has been received, allowing all work along the Buford-Spring Connector bridge crossing to move forward. 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: 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.

  

  Construction on the Northeast Trail – Segment 2 looking south towards Piedmont Avenue with Ansley Square to the left. The access ramp is visible connecting Piedmont Avenue to the trail. April 5, 2023. Photo by Lo Knows Drones.

  

  Construction on the Northeast Trail – Segment 2 looking south with Ansley Mall to the left. April 5, 2023. Photo by Lo Knows Drones.

  

  Construction on the Northeast Trail – Segment 2 with Ansley Golf Course to the left and Ansley Mall to the right. April 5, 2023. Photo by Lo Knows Drones.

  

  Construction on the Northeast Trail – Segment 2 looking towards Montgomery Ferry Road with Ansley Mall to the right. April 5, 2023. Photo by Lo Knows Drones.

  

  Northeast Trail – Segment 2 construction over the Buford-Spring Connector. April 22, 2023. Photo by John Becker.

  

  The current unpaved Northeast Trail – Segment 1 looking south towards Piedmont Park. April 19, 2023. Photo by Lo Knows Drones.

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 35% complete with the work. Work is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2024. Weather delays (rain) have added about 60 days to the project schedule duration. Updates are posted at www.beltline.org/ponce.

• Reynoldstown Community Space: Construction has begun on the community space in Reynoldstown on the Eastside Trail, just north of Memorial Drive, and is on track to be completed by June. Envisioned as a long-term cultural landmark and community amenity, the space will feature monumental sculptural forms that serve as both public art and seating and as a component of the performance venue when activated.

Southside Trail

• Southside Trail – Segments 2 – 3: The construction of Segments 2 and 3 is on track to bid for construction in September 2023, contingent upon federal review and release. This segment is tied to federal dollars and the federal construction process.  Fiber relocation work will begin this summer, to move telecommunication lines out of the way of construction activities. Much of the fiber relocation work has already been completed as a part of the Southside Trail 4+5 project.

• Southside Trail – Segments 4 – 5: The trail is anticipated to close down for construction in May, at which time Reeves Young Construction will begin work. The trail closure is dependent upon finalizing the pulling of new fiber cables and moving communications traffic over to the new fiber. The cutover from old to new fiber requires a scheduled outage of service between several entities and can only take place over a weekend. Due to unforeseen circumstances, planned cutovers have required rescheduling. We will keep our community members informed as soon as we have a confirmed timeline on when that work is complete and the trail will close. In the interim, Reeves Young is proceeding with material orders for long lead time items required to construct the project.

• 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 4: This last major, 1.3-mile section of the Westside Trail is under construction. The unpaved trails by Washington Park closed in March. 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. This project is expected 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.

• Ralph David Abernathy Access Point (at Westview) This project will provide a new access point to the Westside Trail, with a new protected crossing across Ralph David Abernathy and a ramp and stair connection to the Beltline. A landscaped plaza is also part of the design. The GDOT permits have been received and ABI has posted this bid for construction,  with a bid award anticipated in May.

• Ralph David Abernathy Complete Streets: This is a streetscape improvement project in the heart of the business district.  The project is approximately 800’ in length and includes parking protected bicycle lanes. The GDOT permits have been received and ABI is planning to bid this work for construction in June with a bid award in August.

  

  Looking north at construction on Westside Trail – Segment 4 with Washington Park to the right. April 20, 2023.

  

  Looking north at construction on Westside Trail – Segment 4. April 20, 2023.

  

  Looking north at construction on Westside Trail – Segment 4 going into the curve of the “Kudzu Line.” April 20, 2023.

Northwest Trail

• Northwest Trail – Segment 1: This section of trail is 0.8 miles in length, beginning at the western edge of Peachtree Parks Apartments and running south along Peachtree Creek. Design is 30% complete, with 60% design expected by this summer.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 2: This segment begins at the corner of Bobby Jones Golf Course and travels east along Colonial Hills Circle for 0.7 miles. Survey and other fieldwork is in progress and is expected to be complete by the end of March, with 30% drawings expected to be complete by the summer.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 3: This section of trail begins at Trabert Ave near Monday Night Brewing’s parking lot and ends after crossing under I-75 at Tanyard Creek, for a total length of 1.2 miles. Design drawings are expected to be 30% complete by June.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 4: This 0.9-mile-long trail begins at English and Culpepper and ends at the parking lot of Monday Night Brewery at Trabert. Survey and field work is complete on Segment 4, and early design work is in progress, with 30% drawings expected in fall of this year.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 5: This trail section begins at the intersection of Marietta Blvd and Huff Rd, traveling to Ellsworth Industrial and English Street for a total of 0.7 miles. Design is 90% complete, with final 100% drawings expected this month. Real estate work is currently underway to purchase the right-of-way needed to construct the trail. The final closing dates will drive the timing of when this project is posted for construction. The Invitation to Bid will likely post between summer and fall of this year, possibly earlier.

You can view March’s design and construction update here.