Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail construction requires detour—possibly long-term

For months, work has been moving full-steam-ahead on the Beltline’s Eastside Trail extension. By last month, things were starting to come together.

Now, as part of the ongoing work, the Beltline’s connection to one of the most popular spots along the trail—Krog Street Market—will be closed for nearly a month. And construction of the trail itself could reportedly be delayed a little farther south, as it would conflict with planned, private developments.

North American Properties—the company behind Atlantic Station’s reboot, Avalon, the upcoming Colony Square transformation, and apartment communities in Old Fourth Ward—plans to build two mixed-use projects with apartments, retail, and restaurants on opposite sides of the new Eastside Trail at DeKalb Avenue.

At a progress update meeting in Old Fourth Ward last week, a Beltline official said there might be a delay in building this section of trail, as they don’t wan’t Beltline patrons “walking between two major construction sites,” and they hope to avoid “any damage done to the trail and our investment there as work continues on those developments,” Atlanta INtown Paper reported.

Beltline officials tell Curbed Atlanta they can’t comment further on a timeline or any details related to the situation because it’s an active real estate matter. We’ve reached out this week to North American Properties for their take and will update with any input.

Curbed Atlanta

In the meantime, Eastside Trail paving will continue under the Edgewood Avenue bridge and behind the Stove Works development to Irwin Street.

Near Krog Street Market, the street closure will allow for a reconfiguration of the trail crossing at Irwin Street as the existing trail and new trail are tied together.

According to the Beltline, there are detours in place to allow pedestrians and cars to access the market and pass from east-to-west along Irwin Street.

The Beltine

Both pedestrian and vehicular traffic on Irwin Street will be directed south to Edgewood Avenue to get around the construction.

Trail users hoping to get to Krog Street from the north will have to jump off the trail at Elizabeth Street and cross Highland Avenue to continue their journeys. Those hoping to head west from the Beltline should use East, Highland, or John Wesley Dobbs avenues.

The detours will be in place from March 20 through roughly April 17.

Plans call for the Eastside Trail extension, as well as a long segment of the Westside Trail, to open this summer.

At the progress meeting, the Beltline official predicted most of the new Eastside Trail would be open by early summer, while funding to finish the trail (i.e., linking it from Kirkwood Avenue in Reynoldstown to Memorial Drive) is still being sought.

• Travel Advisory: Intersection of Eastside Trail and Irwin Street to Close [Beltline]
• Photos: Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail extension is starting to look real [Curbed Atlanta]