Erok was already on top of this: http://bike-pgh.org/bbpress/topic/temporary-trail-closure-to-begin-june-21st-on-south-side-trail#post-37051
Section of southside trail to be temp closed june 21st
I read this on the three Rivers Heritage Trail's yahoo group. It looks like it will still be open on the weekend. Spring 2011 seems so far away.
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PITTSBURGH, Pa. – (June 11, 2010) A temporary Trail closure will soon begin
along a portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail as part of the Pennsylvania
American Water's Becks Run Pumping Station Replacement Project. The Trail
closure will be in place starting June 21, 2010 through early spring 2011. The
1.5-mile portion of the Trail being affected runs roughly from Water Street at
the Steelers practice facility to the dead end of the Trail adjacent to the
Glenwood Bridge. Signs will soon alert Trail users to the closure and note that
the Trail will be open and usable every weekend during the project from Friday
at 4:30 through Sunday evenings.
Thomas Baxter, Director, of Friends of the Riverfront stated, "It's unfortunate
to close the Trail for several months during the week, but we are pleased that
Pennsylvania American Water will open it on the weekends and restore the Trail
completely. Both the City of Pittsburgh and Urban Redevelopment Authority agreed
to a quick schedule of nine months, largely during the winter, and repeatedly
stressed that this project has to be done and is imperative for our region's
safe drinking water. I'm happy that they understand the need to complete this
project quickly before the last section of the Great Allegheny Passage is open.
Once that happens, another closure will be almost impossible."
Pennsylvania American Water will be making upgrades to its intake structure
located along the trail on the Monongahela River. These upgrades will
necessitate the use of the trail by construction vehicles and create a
potentially unsafe situation for trail users during project work hours.
"We understand that closing several miles of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail
will cause some inconvenience, but we have worked closely with all the partners,
including the City of Pittsburgh, Urban Redevelopment Authority and Friends of
the Riverfront, to ensure the safety of trail users and the timely completion of
the project," said Pennsylvania American Water External Affairs Manger Gary
Lobaugh.
Additional details on the Becks Run Project in relation to the Three Rivers
Heritage are available on the Trail Status Page at
www.friendsoftheriverfront.org keyword PA American Water.