Future Beltline needs ‘emergency repairs’ this summer to keep Atlantans safe

This summer, the future Beltline corridor south of downtown is due for some “emergency repairs,” officials say, because Atlanta’s explorers and exercisers refuse to steer clear of certain hazardous sections of the undeveloped loop.

In March, the Beltline acquired a 4.5-mile abandoned railroad corridor in a $25.8 million purchase from CSX Transportation. It will become the Southside Trail, perhaps within a couple of years.

This inverted arc of the 22-mile loop to-be runs from University Avenue to Glenwood Avenue, and it will ultimately link the Eastside and Westside trails.

And while this stretch of the trail is technically closed to the public—and severely overgrown—people keep jogging on it willy-nilly, which, Beltline officials say, is quite dangerous, according to 11 Alive.

Some kudzu patches reportedly hide drops of 30 feet. Elsewhere, a legitimately terrifying sinkhole has opened.

Curbed Atlanta

Beltline Engineer Catherine Owens said it could take until March 2019 before this part of the path is user-ready, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

In an effort to stop hooligans from endangering themselves on their newly acquired land, Beltline heads are planning some changes. They’re currently scouting for contractors to make fixes at three specific locations on the Southside Corridor, ABC reported:

• Between Glenwood and Milton Avenues
• Between Milton and Boulevard Avenues, next to D.H. Stanton Park
• At an existing sand chute between Glenwood Avenue and Berne Street

Beltline brass aims to improve the storm drainage systems at two places where erosion has chewed up the land, and the sand chute needs to be filled in, too.

There are, in fact, “No Trespassing” signs dotting the closed trails, but fixes are needed because people are clearly going to keep disregarding the warnings.

Beltline officials will be on site with contractors June 6 to assess the damage.

• BeltLine seeks quick fixes to hazards hidden along new southside trail [11Alive]
• Atlanta Beltline plans ‘emergency’ repairs to parts of future Southside Trail [Atlanta Business Chronicle]
• Explore the Atlanta Beltline’s recently acquired Southside Trail in 60 photos [Curbed]