Atlanta BeltLine Design and Construction Updates: December 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 

• The Atlanta BeltLine is working with consulting engineer, Kimley-Horn, to conduct a transit study, which will include 13 miles of corridor between the Lindbergh and Bankhead MARTA stations and continuing counterclockwise to Glenwood Avenue. Project goals include identifying preferred alignments and station locations in the northwest quadrant of the BeltLine, and confirmed preferred station locations in the southwest and southeast corridor. The project kicked off in October of this year. Equity stakeholder and technical stakeholder committees have been established along with a transit advocate and academic roundtable. This study is anticipated to complete by June 2025.

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 underway to replace 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. This section of trail will have the concrete trail poured to Evelyn Street by early January. Lighting and camera installation will follow along with planting work.
  • Along Phase II, construction crews have completed erosion control measures, tree clearing and stump removal. Storm water work is underway. Grading work is expected to begin in January, along with utility relocation work.
  • Phase III work, which includes pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of 10th and Monroe Drive, will take place later in the construction schedule and with ample community notice and coordination. Initial planning and logistics are in progress for this phase of work.
  • 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.

• Northeast Trail – Segment 2: This trail is open to the public with follow-on projects underway. Construction is wrapping up for a connecting sidewalk at the north end of the trail at Mayson Street, and is expected to be complete in January. Landscape installation is in progress and will continue through April 2024. Selig Enterprises, owner of Ansley Mall, is in progress on a bridge connecting the rear of their retail stores to the trail. Selig will set the opening date for the connecting bridge, which is expected by late winter or early spring.
  
• 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 design team is scheduled to complete 90% drawings by March of 2024. Real estate acquisition and construction easements are underway and will be followed by GDOT approvals for right of way, environmental, and utility work. Construction letting / bidding is targeted for May 2025. The current expected construction start is August of 2025, with up to a three-year schedule to complete the mainline trail and the connector trails. 
• 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 de Leon Avenue to the BeltLine running from Boulevard to Freedom Parkway. Work currently in progress includes construction of a median near Freedom Parkway.  The last section of sidewalk between Glen Iris and Somerset Terrace will be in progress starting in January and is expected to be complete within two months. This project is currently anticipated to complete in June of 2024. Updates are posted at www.beltline.org/ponce. 

Southside Trail 

• Southside Trail – Segments 2 – 3: The construction of Segments 2 and 3 has been released to bid.  Construction bids are currently expected in February. The goal is to begin trail construction in late spring of 2024, with a two year construction schedule.  This project achieved the highest level of federal funding possible at 80% of the total construction budget.
  
• Southside Trail – Segments 4 – 5: Current activities include the installation of storm piping and structures underground that will mitigate and manage storm water on the completed project. The contractor is working currently at Delmar and heading south towards Ormewood Ave. Sidewalks and some on-street parking on Ormewood Ave. was closed off to allow for the installation of a new pedestrian bridge. Pile driving is in progress for the bridge structure, or bridge bents at Ormwood Ave. and columns to support the new bridge are being poured. Construction of a retaining wall is in progress for a future access ramp to Delmar Ave., SE.  The trail will remain closed for the duration of construction, expected to last through spring 2025. Detour options can be found here.

  

  

   

• Manford Road Streetscapes: This project will get underway in once the contractor has received all permits, and will include the construction of connecting sidewalks to the Southside Trail from the Capitol View Manor neighborhood. All permits have been requested and are expected to be received in early 2024. Construction hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Monday and Friday and the project is expected to last no longer than six weeks.
• 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 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. The contractor is continuing to construct required retaining walls on the trail and has started granite cladding installation. Steel has been installed on elevated trails in three locations, with a first deck pour expected in late December. Steel for the fourth elevated trail section is expected to arrive this month. Stone rip rap is being installed under all elevated trail sections and final grading is underway between Washington Park and Washington Park Manor.  Trail grading and fiber ductwork has commenced near Lena Street. Grading is also underway along the section of trail with abandoned railroad corridor.  Details on this Westside Trail segment can be found in our design and construction updates section for Segment 4. This project is expected to be complete in summer of 2025.
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

• 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. The contractor, F.S. Scarbrough, has mobilized. Erosion control measures are in place, site fencing is installed, and heavy equipment delivered. Granite curb installation on South Gordon is in progress. On the trail access point, the contractor is cutting the grade down to begin excavation work for wall footings.  In addition, the trail wall will be cut for the new ramp and stair connection point.  A storm water tie-in will be required across the existing trail, which will mean cutting the trail concrete on the current trail, installing the storm water line across the trail, and then backfilling and pouring the trail concrete.  This work which will impact trail users will be scheduled and the community will be notified in advance.  The work is expected to be complete and open to the public within eight months, in spring of 2024.

  

  

   

• 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. Crosswalk installation at KIPP Academy to started on December 18^th, along with parking and median construction from West Ontario to Westview Drive, SW. Work in these areas is expected to be complete by January 3^rd when school starts back after the holidays. Outreach to community businesses was conducted in person on December 5^th to collect information on hours/days of operation of various businesses and to further refine the construction schedule for the work in the business district area. Coordination will be required for impacts to on street parking and business entrances. ABI is working with contractor to come up with plan to mitigate the effects of construction. This project is expected to be complete in spring of 2024. 
  
  

Enota Park

• Enota Park is an eight-acre park that will be built on the west side of Atlanta. A contract is in progress for a Construction Manager for Enota Park. After the construction manager is under contract, the project budget will be confirmed and any required adjustments to the design will be completed to maintain the budget before construction is released. ABI is also working with the City of Atlanta currently to consolidate some of the real estate parcels within the park, and finalizing construction permitting.  Construction is funded and targeted to start in 2024. The project construction schedule is expected to be 16 months, with an anticipated start by the second quarter of 2024.

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 for Segment 1. We have completed 60% drawings for this segment and a cost model has been completed for the project. Design drawings could be complete as early as March 2024. ABI expects to release early enabling work such as material orders, utility relocations, the bridge across Peachtree Creek, or the reconfiguration of the Peachtree Park Apartments parking areas early in 2024.
• 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. 60% design is expected to be complete in January 2024.  Once design is 60% complete, real estate easements and purchases can be negotiated and finalized.
• 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 February 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.
• 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. Design is expected to be 60% complete by March of 2024. Coordination with the Department of Watershed Management and other property owners has been very productive and the alignment for this segment has been confirmed.
• 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 currently underway to purchase the final right-of-way needed to construct the trail. The real estate transaction is complex and a closing date has not been established.  The project will be posted for a construction bid in 2024 as soon a the property closes. The construction schedule is expected to be 18 months.

You can view November’s design and construction update here.  Our fourth Quarterly Briefing took place virtually on December 14th. View the recording here and download the presentation here.