Back in April 2024, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Beltline brass captured headlines by announcing the last leg of Southside Trail segments was launching construction earlier than expected, in order to be finished as a showpiece for 2026 FIFA World Cup crowds.  

That goal before the goals appears to be in jeopardy now. 

Meanwhile, another section of the Southside Trail along Grant Park, Ormewood Park, and Boulevard Heights might not open this fall as long planned. 

For the uninitiated, the Southside Trail gaps are crucial for both transportation and leisure because, when finished, they’ll link together open trails now running down the east and west sides of Atlanta, creating a massive, nearly 18-mile J of contiguous mainline Beltline pathways. 

Overview of the two southern trail extensions in question (Segments 2 and 3; and Segments 4 and 5) as seen on an August construction progress map. Atlanta Beltline Inc.; alterations, UA

Here’s a quick overview of where construction (and issues) stand, as reported this week by Beltline officials. 

Segments 4 and 5: Between Glenwood Avenue and Boulevard 

This section of the Southside Trail—now technically referred to as the Southeast Trail; confused yet?—will stretch for 1.2 miles between Glenwood Avenue and Boulevard. It was the first to break ground, back in summer 2023, when construction was originally scheduled to wrap sometime this past spring. 

It didn’t take long to encounter hiccups. Unexpected hurdles involving underground utilities at United Avenue wiped out the Beltline’s earlier goals of having the trail open this year by spring, summer, and now possibly fall. 

As seen in August, finished landscaping (left) between Boulevard and United Avenue, and work on a bridge structure at Ormewood Avenue. Atlanta Beltline Inc. staff

According to Beltline officials, United Avenue continues to be a sticking point, as completion of a ramp there might not come for several months, meaning Segments 4 and 5 might not open for public use until early 2026, instead of this fall.  

Elsewhere, work on bridges, ramps, and columns continues. On a positive note, the first trail pour between Boulevard and United wrapped in June; the second pour, bringing the paved trail from United Avenue to an existing trail at Ormewood Avenue, is scheduled to happen this month. 

As seen in July, the finished trail pour between United Avenue and Boulevard heads off toward the southwest.Urbanize Atlanta

Segments 2 and 3: Between Boulevard and Pittsburgh Yards/existing Southside Trail

Stretching for 1.9 miles, this longer section got a later start, but it’s also encountering complications. 

The Beltline reports the majority of Segments 2 and 3 is still on pace to see concrete poured by March next year. 

But ongoing brownfield cleanup work is taking longer than expected between Milton Avenue and D.H. Stanton Park, a gap directly south of downtown Atlanta. As of now, the trail is expected to be poured there in May 2026—or just weeks before the FIFA World Cup kicks off. 

Beltline leaders are “working to have this trail open to the public prior to June 2026, when FIFA will be held in Atlanta,” reads a construction update. “However, challenges with the unexpected environmental remediation work on site may delay the full completion of the project.” 

Works on underground storm utilities, walls, and ramps continues at other points along the segments. 

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