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Carrie Furnace Development

See http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/features/carrie-furnaces-site/ An important phase of future work is rehabilitating the Rankin Hot Metal Bridge, including a bike trail extension alongside it. That work could cost $30 million, money the county doesn’t yet have. The county has obtained a $313,000 grant to determine contaminant levels of asbestos in the bridge paint, perform a structural inspection of the two main truss spans, and design a plan for remediation and repairs. “If we can connect [the site] with the Hot Metal Bridge to The Waterfront site, now you add value,” says Fitzgerald. “Transportation and connections are so important with these developments.”
yalecohen
2017-03-30 12:12:52
I'm more concerned with bike connections to Duck Hollow and Hazelwood, than I am with another bridge. Although the bridge would be nice, too.  ;)
mick
2017-03-30 12:36:54
I think that in this case, as often happens, the railroad is a greater barrier than the river. There's a rough path from Duck Hollow up to Braddock, visible as a dotted line on the Google Map. But that's forbidden. It's easier to rebuild the Carrier Furnace bridge and connect it to the GAP than it is to make the existing illegal trail on the north side of the Mon legal.
jonawebb
2017-03-30 12:58:05
As to the bridge, the $30M is to allow CARS to get across. They could have it available for bikes for 1/100 of that cost, in this construction year, if they'd just slap down a wide catwalk over the existing span and a ramp to reach it from either end. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would demonstrate the viability of the space. It would also be simple to take back up if they do find $30M to do what they really want.
stuinmccandless
2017-03-30 17:48:29
@StuInMcCandless....Patience...First I think 1/100 ($30M) is needed to determine asbestos contamination levels (as per grant); depending upon what is found, the cost to remediate may even be higher...and will take time... I don't like broken glass in my path; lead in my water; or asbestos in my lungs...
yalecohen
2017-03-30 23:50:50