Atlanta Beltline Design and Construction Updates: June 2024

Below you will find recent updates and photos of each of our Atlanta Beltline projects in design or construction along with links to get more general information about each project. Additionally, you can explore current design and construction projects 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: Construction is underway on this segment that runs alongside Piedmont Park and will be completed in three phases: Phase I from Westminster Drive to Evelyn Street, Phase II from Evelyn Street to Monroe Drive, and Phase III including the 10th Street and Monroe Drive intersection improvements.

• In Phase I, work is substantially complete and includes the replacement of an asphalt trail passing through Piedmont Park starting at Westminster Drive, NE and running adjacent to Clear Creek. This area is sometimes referred to as the Carriage Trail. The Carriage Trail is open with temporary fencing; final handrails will be installed in June. Planting is complete.  The construction team is refurbishing the wooden Clear Creek bridge along the gravel rail trail.

• Along Phase II, construction grading and wall work is ongoing within the corridor with granite cladding underway.  This week concrete slab pours began for the new trail.

• Phase III work, which includes pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of 10th and Monroe Drive is underway.  Key improvements include a new 10th Street bike lane providing direct access to the Atlanta Beltline to enhance connectivity and safety for trail users, a raised pedestrian crossing to improve safety for trail users and pedestrians, improved crossings and pedestrian signals at key intersections to ensure safer travel for all users of the trail, and new traffic signals at Kanuga St NE and Monroe Dr. NE to manage traffic flow and enhance safety. The full intersection closure was completed on June 14th. Single-lane closures will be implemented to finalize sidewalk construction, which is expected to be complete by September 2024.  Single lane closures are expected to occur Monday through Friday, between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Click here for more information. 

• The Beltline continues to work alongside Piedmont Park Conservancy, City of Atlanta Parks Department, and Atlanta Department of Transportation on this project. The project is expected to be complete in fall of 2024.

View of new mural underway at the underside of Park Drive bridge next to the new trail. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

Concrete form work and reinforcing mesh in progress for a concrete pour, looking south towards Park Drive bridge. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

View of new stair leading to dog park in Piedmont Park from the trail. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

• Northeast Trail – Segment 2: Later this summer, the skirts (protective covers) on the lighting along the trail will be changed out for a taller and more robust style.  The Ansley Mall connecting bridge work will continue until early spring. Selig will set the opening date, which is expected to be in the late summer or early fall.  Ansley Golf is installing netting along the corridor to protect pedestrians from errant golf balls.  This work is expected to complete by early July, with landscaping restoration to follow.

• Northeast Trail – Segment 3: This federally funded portion of trail includes the mainline trail of the Atlanta Beltline 22-mile loop, called Northeast Trail – Segment 3, and also includes connector trails to MARTA Lindberg station, PATH 400, and to the Armour-Ottley business district.  The project is in the right-of-way acquisition phase.  Coordination and negotiation with property owners is the primary effort now.  We expect to have all land deals closed this calendar year (2024).  The next major milestone is the Final Field Plan Review meeting this summer, which happens at about 90% design.  The FFPR package was submitted to GDOT in mid-June.  We are on schedule to open construction bids in summer 2025.

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

Eastside Trail

• Ponce de Leon Avenue Streetscapes: The Ponce streetscape project will provide an improved pedestrian and bicycle connection along Ponce de Leon Avenue to the Beltline running from Boulevard to Freedom Parkway. We have completed the sidewalk reconstruction, landscaping, and light pole installation throughout the project. All mast arms have been installed and the contractor is currently working with ATLDOT and Georgia Power to switch over all traffic signal operations to the new signal heads and remove the old strain pole assemblies. Bike lane improvements are complete and pavement striping is expected to be completed by the end of June. The contractor will begin construction on the Beltline access ramp as soon as GDOT approves the wall and materials submittals, currently under review.

• Updates are posted at www.beltline.org//learn/current-projects/ponce-streetscape.

Southside Trail

• Southside Trail – Segments 2 – 3: This trail segment is 1.9 miles and runs from McDaniel to Boulevard. A contractor has been executed with Reeves Young, and a Notice to Proceed was issued by ABI on April 29, 2024.  Construction mobilization started on May 20^th. In order to protect tri-colored bat breeding habitat, federal restrictions on clearing are in place through July 31^st.  This project achieved the highest level of federal funding possible at 80% of the total construction budget.  ABI anticipates to have the trail construction wrapped by early 2026, to be followed by landscaping. Read more about how the acceleration of this trails segment, here. 

• Southside Trail – Segments 4 – 5:  This trail segment runs from Boulevard to Glenwood and is 1.2 miles long.   Storm line installation is ongoing. Work on the Ormewood Avenue bridge abutment, south side, will continue into mid-July. The United Avenue ramp construction will begin in mid-July and continue for the next several weeks. Reeves Young will also be continuing construction on the walls which will support the ramp up to Delmar throughout July    The trail will remain closed for the duration of construction which is expected to last through spring 2025. Detour options can be found here.

  

  United Avenue bridge work in progress, with reinforcing steel for a new retaining wall and a footer seen in the foreground. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

  

  Pile driving in progress to support the next section of structure for the construction of the new trail bridge, adjacent to the historic Ormewood bridge. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

  

  View of new retaining wall clad in granite and sidewalk construction in progress under the historic Ormewood bridge. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

• Southside Trail – Segment 6, Phase II:  This project will replace the interim condition and includes a new pedestrian bridge over I-20, running parallel to the existing vehicular bridge at Bill Kennedy Way.  The trail section running through Glenwood Park will also be improved to meet BeltLine trail standards.  The design of this project kicked off with the community during an ABI Study Group meeting on March 25th.  The engineering team is currently developing typical cross sections and options for the street and trail composition and alignment.  A Study Group meeting will be scheduled this summer when the concepts are ready to present.  The project will be completed in two phases: Phase 1 will include work in the ATDOT right of way which is expected to start in summer of 2025, followed by work in the GDOT right of way in summer of 2026.

• Details on each Southside Trail - Segment 6 can be found in our design and construction updates section, here.

Westside Trail

• Westside Trail – Segment 4: This 1.3-mile 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. Steel has now been placed on all five bridges, or elevated trail sections and on four of the bridges concrete has now been poured. Stone is being installed under bridges and final grading is taking place between Washington Park and Washington Manor. The fiber duct bank is complete from Lena to Washington Manor and will be progressing to Mason Turner.  We are also working on duct bank and grading along the portion of the trail on historic rail bed, also called the Kudzu Trail.  The trail has been paved from Lena to the first elevated section of trail.  Handrail installation on two of the bridges is underway. The stone walls at Donald Lee Hollowell underpass are underway. All walls have been poured.  This project is expected to be complete in summer of 2025.

  

  Newly poured concrete trail looking toward the existing Westside Trail. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

  

  Granite cladding in progress on the face of a retaining wall. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

  

  Newly poured concrete trail looking toward the existing Westside Trail (Just behind the orange fence). Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

  

  Stainless steel handrail under construction on an elevated area of trail. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

  

  Stainless steel handrail under construction on an elevated area of trail, looking towards Washington Park. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

• Ralph David Abernathy Access Point (at Westview): This project will provide a new access point to the Westside Trail, with a protected crossing across Ralph David Abernathy and a ramp and stair connection to the Beltline. A landscaped plaza is also part of the design.  Granite facing is underway on all walls and is anticipated to be complete by the first week of July. Final rough grading at top of plaza in progress, and structural soil has been installed for plaza area.  Pole bases are set for pedestrian lighting and cameras for the site.  The project end date is targeted for late July, with final landscaping to occur in early October 2024 to ensure plant survivability.

  

  View from the Westside Trail of the new access point including both a stair and a ramp. Granite cladding and electrical rough-in are underway. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 06/25/2024.

  

  View of new stair leading to the Westside Trail. Photo by ABI Staff. Photo taken 6/26/2024.

  

  View of new ramp leading to the Westside Trail. Photo taken 6/25/2024. Photo by ABI Staff.

• Ralph David Abernathy Complete Streets: This is a streetscape improvement project in the heart of the West View business district. The project is approximately 800 feet in length and includes parking and protected bicycle lanes.  Milling and paving operation is complete and the construction of protected bike lane median work will wrap up by July.  Striping layout a installation is expected to be complete by July.  During the next 30 days, the contractor will be cleaning sidewalks/buildings, and installing the water diversion curb along the east side of RDA.  Project completion is anticipated by late August, allowing for permanent striping and signage to be installed due to curing requirements for new asphalt before this work can begin.  Final landscaping held off until early October ’24 to ensure plant survivability.

  

  View of concrete curbing being poured for a protected bike-lane adjacent to the sidewalks. Photo taken 6/25/2024. Photo by ABI Staff.

  

  View of concrete curbing being poured for a protected bike-lane adjacent to the sidewalks. Anchor bolts for new sidewalk lighting and tree wells for sidewalk trees are also visible in this photo. Photo taken 6/25/2024. Photo by ABI Staff.

Enota Park

• Enota Park is an eight-acre park that will be built on the west side of Atlanta.  A contract was executed for a Construction Manager for Enota Park, and the award went to Reeves Young. Now that the construction team is on board, the project budget will be confirmed and any required adjustments to the design will be completed to maintain the budget before construction is released to begin. ABI is working with the City of Atlanta to address revisions to real estate parcels within the park and finalizing construction permitting.  Construction is funded and targeted to start in fall of 2024. The project construction schedule is expected to be 16 months, with an anticipated start date dependent upon permitting.

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 have executed a contract with Reeves Young to be our Construction Manager at Risk. Although the contractor has not physically mobilized, construction work is underway. We have begun to procure various parts of the project such as the bridge over Peachtree Creek as well as the materials for the retaining walls along the corridor and all elevated trail sections. The acquisition of easements is ongoing and once complete, we will start at the Peachtree Park Apartment complex at the beginning of Q3.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 2: This segment begins at the southwest corner of Bobby Jones Golf Course and travels east along Colonial Hills Circle for 0.7 miles. The design drawings are 60% complete. Achieving this milestone allows real estate purchases and easements to begin.  The drawings are expected to 90% complete in September.

• Northwest Trail – Segment 3: This section of trail begins at Trabert Avenue 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 will be 60% complete by the end of May 2024. A contract has been awarded to Astra Group for Construction Manager at Risk Services. The construction manager will provide early assistance with construction logistics, scheduling, and budgeting while the drawings are being completed. The section of the trail between Trabert and Northside has started construction. Storm water piping has been completed and sewer is commencing.

• 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. The 60% drawings are complete which releases real estate to begin property purchases and easements. Coordination with the Department of Watershed Management and other property owners has been very productive and the alignment for this segment has been confirmed. We will be splitting Segment 4 into two parts called Section 1 and Section 2.  We are currently soliciting a construction manager for Section 1 from English Street to Howell Mill.

• 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. Real estate work is complete.  The construction contract for this segment has been signed and the Notice to Proceed was issued on May 20^th, 2024. The project is under construction and the contractor is completing survey work, to be followed by clearing and grubbing in the next 2-3 weeks.

Beltline Transit Study

• This planning project, primarily focused on determining a preferred transit alignment in the NW Beltlines quadrant where there is no abandoned railroad corridor, also intends to identify stop locations and generalized cross-sections in the SW and SE quadrants of the Beltline corridor. The overall study area is looking at 13-14 miles of future light-rail/streetcar transit corridor, tying into the NE Beltline quadrant planning work previously performed by MARTA in 2021. The effort is guided by principles of equity and the goal of developing a world-class network of high-capacity transit in a green guideway wherever possible.

• Since the October 2^nd kick-off meeting, we have been coordinating outreach with the community via multiple forums, including the State of the Beltline, an Equity Stakeholder Committee, 3 small-group roundtables, multiple Pop-Up engagements on weekends, etc. We expect to have sufficient information for another public meeting this summer.

• The project will be supportive of the concept of infill stations that was announced by Mayor Dickens in April 2024. The study does not have any work started on this front yet.

• A public meeting, providing updates on the study progress, is targeted for summer of 2024.

You can view May's Design and Construction updates here. Our second Quarterly Briefing of 2024 was held virtually on June 12, 2024 You can watch the meeting on the Atlanta Beltline's YouTube channel.