Key pedestrian bridge linking Atlantic Station to all points north moves forward

A pedestrian bridge project that could one day link Atlantic Station’s northern edge to the neighboring community of Loring Heights is “picking up momentum.”

That’s the word from representatives of developer Track West Partners, which is planning a 130,000-square-foot mixed-use build on Bishop Street, just northwest of the retail district’s Target.

The proposed bridge has been a matter of discussion among neighbors for nearly two decades, according to a Track West Partners spokesperson.

Now, the “much-anticipated” project is in the design phase and slated to break ground in mid- to late-2020.

The bridge, which would climb from the Target parking lot over Norfolk Southern railroad tracks to reach the mixed-use development on Bishop Street, is estimated to cost between $1.5 and $2 million. (A pittance compared to the highly stylized Northside Drive pedestrian bridge, where the ultimate cost is the subject of debate but is well north of $20 million.)

The bridge project would also require Track West Partners to secure air rights from the railroad company.

But in light of so much development happening in the vicinity—the T3 West Midtown, Atlantic Yards, and 400 Bishop office projects are just a few examples—making the bridge proposal a reality was a no-brainer, neighborhood leaders have said.

“With the growth we’ve been experiencing in the Midtown, Atlantic Station, and West Midtown neighborhoods, the interconnection for pedestrians and cyclists has never been more important,” says Ron Grunwald, president of the Loring Heights Neighborhood Association, per a press release.

The project is anticipated to be complete by early 2021.