The Kroger shopping center at 725 Ponce de Leon Ave. will soon have a bike/pedestrian ramp to the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. Renderings of the new connector, along with plans for more exterior upgrades to the 30-year-old supermarket, were released this morning as work gets underway.

BeltLine users wanting to access the shopping center, which also includes the Ford Factory Lofts and numerous small businesses and restaurants, have made their own path down an embankment off the Eastside Trail, but the new ramp will make it easier and safer, according to officials.

Along with the ramp, Kroger is also installing bike racks, a bike repair station, new curbs and sidewalks (including paved sidewalk access to Ponce), new trees and landscaping, a “water quality pond” in the parking lot to filter runoff, new LED parking lot lighting and repaving the front and back parking lots. Construction is expected to be complete in November.

The store itself, which originally opened in 1984, will get a new paint job, new lights and signage to reflect the recent interior upgrade completed in March.

“This Kroger has served the Old Fourth Ward, Midtown, Poncey Highland, Virginia Highland and surrounding areas for three decades,” says Glynn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “The site improvements continue the investments we’ve already made on the inside of the store, and we expect the opening of Beltline access will give our customers – whether they’re on foot, bicycle, skates or however they choose to travel – another easy alternative to get to the store. We’re very excited about this project at Beltline Kroger and its potential to bring new levels of convenience to the community.”