Atlanta Beltline Design and Construction Updates: June 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.

Beltline Transit Study

• At the end of May, the Beltline hired Kimley-Horn to conduct a transit study, which will include 13 miles of corridor with alternatives analysis between the Lindbergh and Bankhead MARTA stations and continuing counterclockwise to Glenwood Avenue. We will keep the community posted with next steps for engagement and input.

Northeast Trail

• Northeast Trail – Segment 1: A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Friday, August 4 – all are invited to attend and celebrate! Construction will start the following week. 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. ABI is working jointly with ATLDOT to complete additional pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of 10th and Monroe Dr. in conjunction with the trail construction project as it crosses Monroe Drive. The schedule to complete construction is approximately 12-18 months.

• Northeast Trail – Segment 2: Work to pour the concrete trails is moving forward rapidly. A final GDOT permit has been received, allowing 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: USDOT recently awarded a RAISE grant for $25 million for 2.2 miles of the Northeast Trail and connector trails! This will be the first time the Atlanta Beltline trail will connect to a MARTA transit station (at Lindbergh Center), fulfilling the vision to connect with the region’s larger transportation network.

• A virtual community meeting is scheduled for July 27 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Click here to register.

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

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. A virtual community meeting is scheduled for July 27 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Click here to register.

• Reynoldstown Community Space: Construction is in progress on the community space in Reynoldstown on the Eastside Trail, just north of Memorial Drive, and is on track to be completed this summer. 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 this September, contingent upon federal review and release. This segment is tied to federal dollars and the federal construction process. Starting July 5, trail users will begin to see fiber relocation work taking place to move telecommunication lines out of the way of construction activities. Whenever equipment is in use on the trail, the contractor will have spotters in place. Work is expected to last through the end of August and will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays will be used for make-up weather days if necessary. Additionally, Georgia Power is working on power pole relocations.
  Permitting and funding activities are ongoing and on schedule. Contingent upon the federal construction process, permitting, and utility relocation, the goal is to begin trail construction in early 2024.

• Southside Trail – Segments 4 – 5: The trail is officially closed for construction! See detour options and project updates here. It will be closed for the duration of construction, expected to last through spring 2025.

• 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. 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. While heavy construction activity is taking place in phase I (see phasing approach in this presentation) focused between Lena Street and Westmoor Drive, work is progressing in all phases. Clearing has been completed and erosion control is in place along the full length of the corridor. The foundation work for new bridges was completed this month and concrete columns will be poured in July, including for bridge 1 (at the north end of Washington Park) and bridge 2 (between Washington Park and Ollie Street). Foundation work will be getting underway this week on bridge 3 (between Ollie Street and Washington Manor). This project is expected to be complete in summer of 2025. Scroll down for an extensive gallery of construction images.

• 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. A contract is currently in negotiation with a general contractor. We anticipate the agreement to be completed in July and the contractor to mobilize at the site sometime in August.

• 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 and protected bicycle lanes. An Invitation to Bid has been posted for construction with bids due August 1st.

  

  Looking north where Westside Trail – Segment 4 meets Segment 3 and the Westside Beltline Connector into Downtown. The trail can be seen towards the top of the image. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

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. We are currently soliciting for a construction manager for both Segments 1 and 5. 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 complete. We are soliciting a construction manager for both Segments 1 and 5. 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 for construction is expected to post in July. Construction is anticipated to start in the third quarter of this year.

You can view May’s design and construction update here. The most recent Quarterly Briefing took place on June 8 – download the presentation and view the meeting recording.

Looking south from where Westside Trail – Segment 4, Segment 3, and Westside Beltline Connector all meet. The existing plaza can be seen in the foreground and Hollowell Parkway at the top. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking south down Westside Trail – Segment 4 as it passes under Hollowell Parkway (seen in the foreground). June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking south along Westside Trail – Segment 4 behind a row of warehouses just south of Hollowell Parkway. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking north up Westside Trail – Segment 4 as it passes behind a row of warehouses just south of Hollowell Parkway. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking north up Westside Trail – Segment 4 along the “Kudzu Line” between Hollowell Parkway and Boone Boulevard. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking south along the “Kudzu Line” portion of Westside Trail – Segment 4 between Boone Boulevard and Hollowell Parkway. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking south along the “Kudzu Line” portion of Westside Trail – Segment 4 between Boone Boulevard and Hollowell Parkway. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking north along the “Kudzu Line” portion of Westside Trail – Segment 4 between Boone Boulevard and Hollowell Parkway. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking south where Westside Trail – Segment 4 curves around Azalea Garden Apartments. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking south down Westside Trail – Segment 4 where it passes over Boone Boulevard and behind Azalea Garden Apartments. MARTA’s green line is to the right. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking north up Westside Trail – Segment 4 as it curves around Azalea Gardens Apartments north of Boone Boulevard. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking north up Westside Trail – Segment 4 as it passes around Azalea Gardens Apartments (seen to the right) north of Boone Boulevard. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking south down Westside Trail – Segment 4 at the dead end of Washington Manor Drive and MARTA’s rail line. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking south down Westside Trail – Segment 4 in between Washington Manor Drive and MARTA’s green rail line. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

MARTA’s green rail line emerges from underground towards Bankhead station at the northern end of Washington Park (seen to the right). Westside Trail – Segment 4 can be seen above the tracks in this photo. The dead end of Ollie Street is to the left. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Construction on Westside Trail – Segment 4 at the northern end of Washington Park. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking north up Westside Trail – Segment 4 with MARTA’s green rail line to the left. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking north up Westside Trail – Segment 4 as it leaves Washington Park. The dead end of Ollie Street is seen to the right. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Construction of footings for one of two bridges above the northern side of Washington Park. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Work on bridge footings at the northern end of Washington Park. June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.

Looking north up Westside Trail – Segment 4 alongside the western side of Washington Park (the tennis courts are seen to the right). June 7, 2023. Photo by LoKnows Drones.