The Neighborhood News & Features Memorial Drive Update

BeltLine extension and Publix open as reversible lane disappears

By Collin Kelley

The revitalization of the Memorial Drive corridor reached some significant milestones in the last two months, including the opening of the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail extension, the opening of Publix at Madison Yards and the removal of the reversible lane along a four-mile stretch of the corridor.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held July 11 for the final phase of the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail that stretches between Kirkwood Avenue and Memorial Drive. The Eastside Trail is now completely paved from Piedmont Park in Midtown to Memorial in Reynoldstown – a distance of three miles.

A pedestrian scramble is soon to be installed at the Eastside Trail’s busy intersection with Memorial and Bill Kennedy Way, which is where the Madison Yards mixed-use development is under construction. The first tenant, a 50,000 square foot Publix supermarket, opened June 26. Created by Fuqua, Madison Yards will eventually feature an AMC movie theater, a fitness center, retail shops and restaurants Hoots, Taqueria Tsunami, Marlow’s Tavern, Steel City Pops, Curry Up Now and Salata. Greystar is building the 500-plus unit apartment component of the development.

Just as the projects are nearing completion, Georgia Department of Transportation crews have been working since spring to resurface and remove the reversible traffic lane along a four-mile stretch of the corridor from Reynoldstown to East Lake. A center turn lane has been installed, which should make it easier for motorists accessing all the apartments, condos and the Atlanta Dairies mixed-use development, which are nearing completion.