Rough Draft Atlanta
Hyperlocal news for metro Atlanta
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.’s President & CEO Clyde Higgs announced today at a press conference that 17.9 miles of the 22-mile trail are expected to be complete for the 2026 World Cup matches.
Dickens said construction will start earlier on two Southside Trail segments helping to move up the completion timeline. Originally slated to be completed in June 2026, these segments are now set to be finished in the first quarter of 2026.
“By accelerating the completion of the longest continuous stretch of the BeltLine trail yet, we are accelerating equal access to economic prosperity and some of the best natural beauty Atlanta has to offer,” Dickens said. “From our federal and non-profit partners to our engineers and contractors, this has truly been a group project. Thank you to everyone involved in creating safer, healthier and more connected communities in our city.”
The accelerated construction schedule is part of the city’s efforts to prepare for the influx of visitors expected for the eight World Cup soccer matches that will be played in Atlanta in 2026. Each match is akin to hosting a Super Bowl, and organizers say visitors will number in the millions.
When the 16.3 miles of continuous trail is complete, it will connect 36 neighborhoods along the Northwest, Westside, Southside, Eastside and Northeast trails. The mainline and connector trails will provide access to parks and destinations, including Washington Park, Westside Park, and Piedmont Park. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the World Cup soccer matches will be played, is 1.6 miles from Washington Park, one of the closest access points to the BeltLine from downtown Atlanta. The Westside BeltLine connector trail is only half a mile from the stadium and ties directly into the BeltLine’s Westside Trail.
“We wanted to announce this construction plan as early as possible so that the neighborhoods and small businesses along the trail can maximize the opportunity that FIFA will bring,” Higgs said. “This will be a momentous milestone for us. To have more than 16 continuous miles of mainline trail completed of our 22-mile loop will be a gamechanger. People will be able to ride bikes, roll, run, walk, socialize and commute along the completed, continuous trail, allowing Atlantans and visitors to discover historic neighborhoods, BeltLine arts, retailers, businesses and destinations along the way.”
Southside Trail—Segments 2 and 3 will extend 1.9-miles from Pittsburgh Yards® in southwest Atlanta to Boulevard in southeast Atlanta. Once complete, these trail segments will provide safe passage under the 16 lanes of the Interstate 75/85 connector and under an active vehicle and freight rail intersection at McDonough Boulevard. The trail also will connect to several Atlanta Public Schools, including Carver High School and Slater Elementary, and parks including DH Stanton Park.
While the paved trail portion of the BeltLine continues to move forward, the future of rail on the corridor remains in flux. Dickens roiled rail supporters earlier this month with comments that appeared to backtrack on his initial support for transit on the loop.
In an interview with Atlanta News First, Dickens revealed he wasn’t sold on the idea of extending the Atlanta Streetcar from Downtown to Ponce City Market, which MARTA currently has in the planning stages. “Do we want it to be on rails, do we want it to be on rubber tires, do we want small pods or do we want to leave this as a walking trail?” Dickens said.
Instead, the mayor has touted four new infill MARTA stations as ways to create more access to the BeltLine.
Collin Kelley has been the editor of Atlanta Intown for two decades and has been a journalist and freelance writer for 35 years. He’s also an award-winning poet and novelist. More by Collin Kelley
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