The Atlanta Beltline hit 13.6 miles of completed mainline trail on Oct. 30 after officials cut the ribbon on Segment 5 of the Northwest trail, and broke ground on a chunk of Segment 4.
“Today is a momentous day for the Beltline as we now have nearly 14 miles of mainline trail completed,” Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs said.
Segment 5 runs 0.8 miles through Blandtown, starting north of the Marietta Boulevard and Huff Road intersection and traveling to Ellsworth Industrial and English Street. From there, it transitions into a greenway with direct access to the Silver Comet Connector Trail. It was designed by Kaizen and constructed by Astra.
Construction teams are still finishing up the segment, with some sections of Segment 5 partially open for final work. But once it is finished, Beltline officials said it will be part of the longest continuous trail in the corridor.
As local officials celebrated the ribbon-cutting on Segment 5, they broke ground on the first piece of the adjacent Segment 4 trail. Segment 4 sits near the Westside Provisions District and spans a 0.9-mile piece of land.
“In true Beltline fashion, we’re celebrating one opening while charging ahead on the next,” Higgs said. “Accelerating progress toward the full 22-mile loop and delivering greater connectivity and access to opportunity, and a stronger sense of community for our Northwest communities and all who call this city home.”
On Oct. 30, the Beltline broke ground on Segment 4A, a 0.5-mile chunk. The land is now in pre-construction work. 4B, a 0.4-mile piece, is looking for a construction bid in 2026. Pond & Company and F.H. Paschen Constructing will lead design and construction for 4A.
Once completed, the Northwest trail will run 4.3 miles between Blandtown and Lindberg/Morosgo. It’s the trickiest piece of the 22-mile trail loop, which Beltline officials aim to complete by 2030 – there is no abandoned rail line right-of-way to build along.
It adds some engineering challenges. The Beltline has bought up land, like the nuisance Elleven 45 Lounge, as part of Segment 2 of the Northwest Trail.
Officials have also honed in on the Northwest Trail when it comes to the addition of light rail on the Beltline. Earlier this year, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens committed to Beltline rail starting on the Southside trail.
The Northwest trail segment is a daunting rail task. There isn’t a right-of-way to build on top of, and it’s the priciest segment to add transit to. But engineers proposed a “CSX Alignment” that would run adjacent to the existing railroad’s right-of-way and connect directly to Piedmont Hospital. It would cost $800 million to build.
The whole rail proposal will cost an estimated $3.5 billion. It’s an ambitious plan without a set timeline. But as the Beltline inches closer to completion, city leaders are confident about the loop’s future.
“The vision for the Beltline is almost fully realized, and it’s already changing lives, while connecting and strengthening neighborhoods all across our city,” Dickens said.
Good writeup
The Beltline progress is exciting to follow. Reaching nearly 14 miles shows how far the project has come. The Northwest segment looks challenging, but it’s going to connect so many communities. Can’t wait to see everything completed and the full loop come alive.