Segment of the GAP to remain closed until August 6. There is no posted detour, but there will be shuttles.
The Regional Trail Corporation (RTC) announced that a segment of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail in West Mifflin will be closed starting in the evening of Thursday, July 9 for safety scaling. The closure between the Whitaker flyover and the Port Perry flyover is expected to last approximately 28 days with contractors beginning work on Friday, July 10.
Scaling removes loose or potentially unstable material that may dislodge. It is considered periodic maintenance for slopes that pose a potential rockfall hazard, especially after the freeze-thaw cycle. This trail segment near milepost 137 of the GAP, below Kennywood Park and SR 837, has had several rockfalls and landslides throughout the years.
The work is necessary to prevent a potential landslide, as they continue to work towards funding a long-term solution.
How do I get around the closure?
This segment of the GAP will remain closed until August 6. There is no posted detour.
Shuttle Service
To mitigate the impact to riders, the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy has arranged for a licensed shuttle service to provide transportation for GAP travelers between Homestead and Duquesne, starting on July 10. The service is intended to assist those seeking to safely bypass the segment closure under Kennywood. The service will operate from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, seven days a week, until August 6, or earlier if the project is completed ahead of schedule. The shuttle fee is $20/person fee (cash is preferred but credit cards are accepted). Bill’s Car Service, based in Allegheny County, will provide this service, which will be first-come, first-served. There may be slight deviations to accommodate families traveling together.
A one-way shuttle ride is anticipated to be approximately 16-20 minutes.
- On the eastern end, the shuttle service will use the official, GAP-branded trail access area in Duquesne, which is at 20 Library Place, Duquesne, PA 15110, and approximately mile marker 135.3.
- On the western end, the shuttle service will use the official, GAP-branded trail access area at the Waterfront, which is at 191 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120, and approximately mile marker 140.5.
PRT Public Transit
You can also use Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s bus service using its 59 or 61C routes.
Each bus is equipped with a bike rack that holds up to two bicycles.
See our Bikes on Transit page for a simple primer on how to use the PRT bike racks.
- Pro tip: Download the PRT Ready2Ride Mobile App, or one of their partner apps, to make boarding a breeze.
Riding
Due to the steep hills, the Monongahela River, and hostile road conditions, there are very few options for riding around the closure. Confidant riders may consider riding between McKeesport and Braddock via East Pittsburgh, using East Pittsburgh McKeesport Blvd and the Tri-Boro Expressway. Please note that this is not a bike-friendly route and should only be used if you are very confidant and experienced riding in traffic.
Route 837 may seem tempting to use, but we highly discourage riding it.
What’s the future of this segment of the GAP?
The Regional Trail Corporation has been working with several engineering groups and organizations to evaluate this steep slope, identify solutions, determine the cost of remediation, and plan the best way forward. Estimates are approximately $8 million for repairs and remediation. To date, it has secured $4.3 million, which has enabled this rock scaling project, a similar project in 2025, as well as the planning, engineering, and permitting for an eventual long-term remediation solution.
Organizations, companies, or groups that are interested in financial support of the RTC or this project should contact the RTC at rtcslideproject@gmail.com, or visit the RTC website at regionaltrailcorp.org
NEWSLETTER