Big changes are coming to one of the most popular stretches of BeltLine trail on Atlanta's eastside, and sooner than most users realize.
Atlanta BeltLine Inc. construction leaders announced during an update meeting Thursday that the Southside Trail segments between Glenwood Avenue and Boulevard are on pace for an official ribbon-cutting on April 16. The rest of the loop connecting around to the Westside should be open before mid-June.
But the bigger news is what comes next. Much of the Southside Trail's Segment 6, a half-mile section along Bill Kennedy Way stretching from Memorial Drive down to Glenwood Avenue, is set for a phased overhaul that could begin this summer, following Atlanta's 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
That section has been operating in an interim status since 2020. The current setup includes an asphalt trail less than eight feet wide in places (far narrower than the BeltLine's standard 14 feet) and temporary Interstate 20 bridge lanes protected by moveable Jersey barriers.
The overhaul will replace those temporary crossings with a permanent bridge structure and widen the trail to full BeltLine standards. For the thousands of runners, cyclists, and commuters who use this corridor daily between Reynoldstown and Ormewood Park, the upgrade is long overdue.
The April 16 ribbon-cutting for the southern segments marks another milestone in completing the full 22-mile BeltLine loop, which has been under construction in phases for over a decade.
