AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austinites will soon be able to walk, bike or jog on a new South Austin Trail that was once a rail line. The Bergstrom Spur Trail is a 6.5 mile-long urban trail, which will connect Austin Bergstrom International Airport to much of south Austin. The Trail will be developed in three segments: Western, which is currently under construction, Central and Eastern. Once complete, the three segments will function and feel like a cohesive, continuous trail according to online plans. The trail will connect Vinson Drive in south Austin to East Riverside Drive and U.S. 183 in southeast Austin, along with many other parks, neighborhoods and destinations. Brian Sullivan, who grew up near the trail, said it will open up new opportunities for those wanting to walk or ride their bike to nearby shops or restaurants. Austin seeks federal funds to transform abandoned railroad tracks into future trail "There is a whole lot going on in south Austin, and the idea and prospect of being able to get to all those various things on foot, on bicycle or some other transportation that is not a car on the street, is a win for everybody," Sullivan said. The first western portion is currently under construction and should be done by the summer. "We are going to get that first half mile constructed in the next four to six months or so, and then that will set us up to start construction on the next phase," said city of Austin Sidewalks and Urban Trails Division Manager John Eastman. This trail was first identified back in 2014 as part of the first urban trails plan for the city of Austin. "Even though it has taken all these years to get to this point, I never lost hope in the project, and I tried to stay in touch with folks with the city and some of the people who had their hands on this from a funding perspective," Sullivan said. Austin gets $288K grant for ADA-compliant trails, crossings Eastman said there are many steps that had to take place before the property was available for construction. "From identifying a trail to making it a reality, a big part of the equation is the right-of-way acquisition and working with land owners," Eastman said. The goal of the project is to offer safer eastern and western pedestrian and bike services and recreation to those living nearby. "We are looking at funding opportunities, grant opportunities to use to leverage the remaining bond funds that we have from the 2020 bond," Eastman said. The entire project is estimated to be completed by 2027 with a total cost of about $25 million. Eastman said they are still working to acquire funding to complete the eastern portion of the project.