BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Went through there earlier this month. The two crossings over the railroad in Whitaker appear complete though are blocked. There are survey stakes and earth disturbance from the southern crossing to the RIDC park limit in Duquesne.

The trail from the Duquesne RIDC park is open. Perhaps once the 1/2 mile or so of pavement is installed to Duquesne, then they may open the two crossings in Whitaker - for a complete trail from Homestead to D.C.?

The official opening date is June something or another. Their website is no help.

I'm in Steel Valley Trail Council (which is just a group of regular people like you and me - ever consider getting involved?) and we haven't picked a date for the opening of the trail from Duquesne to the Waterfront, yet; the plan is still some time in June. Don't worry, it will get a lot of publicity when the date nears.

I think people are going to like this section of trail: it's paved, it's flat, it goes below Kennywood, past the Braddock Locks, has views of Edgar Thomson Works, and from the two bridges over the railroad tracks, there are nice views of Braddock, the river, and the coal trains.

There's still construction ongoing (or starting soon?) in Duquesne, as sloaps noted. That's why we haven't opened it yet.

can't wait

the trail is nice, the bridges were "open" last time I went through (april). can't wait 'till it's complete. thanks for your hard work.

http://www.jonpratt.com/2011/Urban-to-Union-Railroad-0413

That sounds really cool, I've always wondered what was down there below K'wood. Thanks!

I did the road section from Clairton/Glassport to McKeesport twice. I enjoyed it although crossing the Mon was a little scary at first. I'd like to ride the rest of it...

Paul, we can talk at the next Edgewood council meeting.

The two bridges are no longer blocked off in any way, and the Trail Closed signs (all but one) have been moved off the trail. Southbound there's no indication the trail from Homestead to Duquesne and onward is anything but open. Northbound, there's still a sign at Duquesne saying the trail's closed, and some fencing in that region that's not done yet.

The trail's quite nice. But there are many rocks on it in some parts, fallen from the steep slopes above. It's easy to get distracted by the great vistas and run over a rock. (Ask me how I know this.)

Ok, anybody want to post a google maps with a marker at a trail entry point? I was planning on a de-stressing ride, and this sounds perfect (but I don't know where to start!).

Here's the Homestead end of the new trail.

The Duquesne end is at Grant and 837, just over the railroad tracks, right where the trail from McKeesport ends (as shown in Google Maps bike view already). Can't miss it.

Thank you! So is it connected to the Waterfront portion of the GAP as shown in google bicycle? Just trying to figure out where to park the car, as we'll likely be driving to and then biking.

@ejwme: Park at the mall.

You can start as far west as the pseudo-village and ride the trail next to the river. Or you can park at the eastern end, at the memorial USS put up to their "employees" (I guess USS just couldn't bring itself to call them steelworkers). It's an easy street ride from there to the trailhead. There's a big parking lot adjacent, but I think it's private.

Don't forget the trip report!

Yup, the two trail sections aren't officially linked yet with a car-free connection, just a very bike-friendly road (with a narrow sidewalk that'll eventually be widened into a trail segment, I think).

Forgot to mention: The northern bridge was guarded by this guy. He was big!

A few more trail photos.

^ Yeah, you know you're pedaling slow when those guys show up!

When I did a Morgantown trip a while ago, some of these guys were circling above me. I was SO relieved they decided to move on.

Question: Does this mean that if a person was planning a trip from PGH to D.C. after June something that they could start at the Waterfront? (and not have to ride on whatever section everyone always describes as being hairy/scary)

Yes, that's right. The official opening is in two weeks, but it's rideable right now. (I guess they could close it again before the opening to complete the fencing, but it seems unlikely.)

Here's the opening announcement that was posted on various trail lists on Friday June 3:

PLEASE JOIN US TO CELEBRATE!

The opening of the newest section of the Great Allegheny Passage.

Friday, June 17, 2011 at 10:00 am

The amazing 3-mile section of the Passage includes two new bridges, a rolling ride along the scenic former U. S. Steel coke gas pipeline, and an exciting view of two of the Kennywood Park Coasters.

There will be an brief ceremony at the Whitaker Bridge to thank the funders, landowners, contractors, and volunteers. Bring your bicycle and ride the new section after the event.

RSVP to [admin followed by an @ and then the domain atatrail.org] or call 724 537 6905.

* Please enter at Guardian Storage (1002 East Waterfront Dr.

Munhall, PA 15120) and you will be directed to parking for the event.

The photograph below is a preview from the bridge across the Monongahela River to the Edgar Thompson Works of US Steel, the Whitaker Bridge on the far right, and in the center distance, Kennywood Park.

[The photo wasn't included.]

On the other hand, a more recent email on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail list says

Don't park at the Duquesne, Grant Ave end. That end will be closed until the ribbon cutting is finished. Then the gates will be taken down and the whole segment will be open for business.

So maybe they're going to install and close a gate in the next two weeks so they can open it on the 17th? (Last week the more southern bridge still had a gate attached to it, but open. The northern bridge had none. There wasn't enough fencing constructed at the Duquesne end to make a gate functional.)

Safest to wait for the official opening, I guess, if you're riding through.

I didn't get there this weekend, headed to Montour instead (went with a relative who lives right there). Looking forward to the opening... Maybe the flock will stop by that night, I think June Flock is the same evening.

The official opening is June 17 but it was fully open this weekend. Whether it will stay that way until the 17th is anyone's guess.

For future use, just park at the mall (Lowe's is cool with it) or at the Pump House which next to Marcegalia. You have to follow the road/sidewalk around Marcegalia then you'll see where the trail goes off to the left and stays along the river.

The trail is fully paved, not crushed gravel, until beyond McKeesport. You can do a great loop from the Waterfront to Boston (where you can do 'The Loop', you'll see the sign) and back. I did it at a fairly slow pace in about 3 hours. Water can be found at the Boston end and at the start of the McKeesport section (by the marina) but is scarce the rest of the way.

Passing by the rollercoasters at Kennywood was pretty cool, I swear I could smell the clorine from the Logjammer:)

sarapgh, I've read a lot of people making negative comments about the trail between McKeesport and Boston, saying just to avoid it. What was your feeling?

The trail is real nice.

Usually, I'm pretty much a trail-hater, but I have reasons! Hear me out! First, I hate crushed limestone, it's just a speed-sucker. Second, I hate the boring grade -- everything is flat and straight. I can't handle more than 20 miles of trail before I want to die. Built for trains, not for bicycles.

This little stretch of trail, however, was an access road alongside the tracks, built for motor vehicles. It's got curves, dips, touches of vertical texture. And it's paved, with smooth slick asphalt. Lovely. (Actually I loved it before it was paved, too)

Back when the trail only went as far north as McKeesport, it was reasonable to advise GAP users to skip the McKeesport-to-Boston stretch, and start or stop in Boston.

That stretch south of McKeesport is a mixed bag. The western section includes a beautiful nature-preserve section with some dips and climbs (a bit like the new Duquesne-to-Homestead section) with a limestone surface, as well as a low-traffic asphalt road. The eastern section is mostly an asphalt trail past warehouses, with a feel like the Jail Trail, plus some low-traffic streets. Some parts are quite nice (mostly on the western side), but much of it's just functional, not beautiful.

However, once the Riverton Bridge opened, I'd say it was worth continuing to McKeesport and Duquesne just for the great views from that bridge. And with the excellent new section up to Homestead opening, that old "stop at Boston" advice is just outdated.

I agree with Nate and Steven. The portion from McKeesport to Boston isn't especially scenic other than a few nice miles along Dead Man's Hollow (a conservation area) on the western section. So before the Homestead and even Duquesne sections were open there was no reason to ride it, might as well start in Boston. Now it's worth the ride just to do the Riverton Bridge not to mention the rest of the Steel Valley Trail.

Got to do the trail up to McKeesport and back today. Very nice! A very sincere Thank You to all the people who helped make it happen. There were lots and lots of people out biking, and the trail isn't even officially open.

Anyway, some photos:

1) They've started work on the Baldwin-Sandcastle link.

This is like a huge change from what it looked like a few months ago.

2) The next frontier: hot metal bridge to Carrie Furnace (and thence to Duck Hollow).

Ahlir, it cool to see that they are starting on the small section by the scrap metal place.

I checked out the new trail on Friday. I few people were on it. The trail is great and it is cool watching the steel phantom go down the second hill. I hope they put a bench there I am sure this will be a popular rest stop.

Andrew, I agree.

When I went by today, the spot with the roller-coaster had maybe a half-dozen people just standing there and watching. At least one of them had a camera out. Should have stopped and checked it out. Next time.

Please come out to the opening ceremony for the new trail section Friday morning, (6/17 10am under the Rankin Bridge) if you can. We'll have cookies and water. We're expecting 100+ people.

By car: please enter at Guardian Storage (1002 East Waterfront Dr. Munhall, PA 15120) and you will be directed to parking for the event.

By bike: across the street from Guardian Storage is where the paved trail leaves the road and follows the river up toward Rankin Bridge. That's where we'll be.

People will be riding to Kennywood & beyond after the brief ceremony.

Please tell your friends to turn out.

does anyone have tips on the best way to do this coming from Rankin?

it looks like if I take the sheltered sidewalk over the Rankin that it would be perhaps more challenging then to turn right towards the Waterfront since the sidewalk is on the far side of the bridge only.

Then it's only a short stretch of 837, how scary is this? Again there is a sidewalk that goes over the little bridge and down to Guardian, but this sidewalk also looks hard to access like I'd have to lift the bike up over jersey barriers.

Correct or am I missing something?

taking the rankin bridge toward homewood i would just use the shoulder. its all downhill and the lanes/shoulder are plenty wide. you will only be on 837 for about a block and its not super crazy. just be careful about oncoming traffic when you make the right into the back of the waterfront as they left a one lane overpass bridge there for some reason

another article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11167/1153824-55-0.stm?cmpid=news.xml

Mostly good but it sounds like some confirmation about what was being speculated on earlier, "Get to the point" 11-11-11 isn't going to happen

Unfortunately, that is the end of the line for the time being. The last missing link of the Pittsburgh-to-Cumberland, Md., trail, through Sandcastle Waterpark and an adjacent scrap yard, won't be finished by November as officials had hoped.

"We don't have the funds in hand," Ms. Boxx said last week. More than $1 million has been raised toward the estimated $3 million cost, and trail advocates are hoping Gov. Tom Corbett releases a $750,000 grant that state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, had added to the capital budget.

Have you noticed how it's the transportation writer reporting this? Nothing against Nelson-Jones, but that's a huge step to me.

I suspect Costa may have to expend an exceptional amount of political capital to retain that earmark. I wonder if ATA has solicited donations from businesses along the trail - especially in the southside works?

Without sounding too cynical, I wonder... Once the American Water project is done, you'll be able to ride from Duquesne to the Waterfront, thence to Sandcastle via trails. Assume SC is cool with allowing us to ride through the parking lot, and we walk across the ballast by the tracks. Get on the Baldwin Trail, Station Square, Ft Pitt Bridge, shazam you're at the Point.

If you look at it that way, you can "ride to the Point" with the exception of SC parking lot and the train tracks, which we've been working around for years.

But from a political/fundraising perspective, I understand that the preferred/public route won't be complete.

SC and others may actually be less hospitable if there are large volumes of people riding through there. It's important for the ATA to not endorse the cut thrus as they are trying to maintain negotiations with these remaining links.

We'll see what happens. There's definitely going to be increased pressure to find some solution.

If it is really just a quarter mile of railroad ballast they need to pave over, why the heck does that cost $3 mil? Are they buying land as part of this? Repainting the SC parking lot cost that much?

The $3 million is also for the mile of new trail alongside Sandcastle. So it might involve shifting Sandcastle's access road in some spots, and making the land between the road and the tracks flat (some isn't), before they get to the actual mile of asphalt, plus fencing on both sides.

The 800 feet to the west of Sandcastle might involve removing the massive stone supports for the former railroad trestle in that area, plus earth-moving to make a flat trail.

And I expect they won't be paving over any railroad ballast (which is needed to keep the tracks from shifting), but building the trail next to it.

Construction costs also seem to involve non-obvious things like getting utilities to move their lines or pipes, or addressing drainage issues so the trail doesn't get eroded away. I don't know if they're buying any land as part of this as well.

[Edited to eliminate confusing use of the phrase "past Sandcastle"]

Past sandcastle? Like, to the east of SC? are they building it along the river to join up with the current walking path there?

No, I think the $3 million is only for the section from the eastern gate at Sandcastle to the Baldwin Borough Trail. (I edited my last post to make that clearer.)

The section from Sandcastle east to the existing Waterfront Trail will be via sidewalk for now (or the road if you prefer). I think a future project will widen the sidewalk, just as they plan to do for the sidewalk connecting the eastern end of the Waterfront Trail to the newly-opened Steel Valley section.

Here's a new map from the Steel Valley Trail folks showing this week's addition, and the road/sidewalk sections.

I didn't know that map was available and had no idea the Mountour trail was so accesible from McKeesport.

rsprake - I didn't even realize the Montour trail went that far. I thought it was just a "West End" thing. That is awesome.

It only sort-of goes that far - they placed the legend pretty strategically to block the big missing part of trail. there are 3 pretty big gaps between there and library rd.

http://montourtrail.org/map/maps.asp

http://montourtrail.org/map/bypass.asp#F

but, i might have to look into that - it might work out to just about a century if you rode down there, then the entire Montour trail, return via Neville Island.

oh... glad I learned that before giving it a go - thank you!

Dear Salty, you refer to what some call The Montour Loop - start at Montour MP0 in Groveton, ride the Montour full length, ride the on-road connection to the GAP, take the GAP north to Station Square, back on the road with 51 North and Neville Island (to skip large hills), back to the mainland in Coraopolis, 51 South to the starting point.

I believe it's 80-something miles.

All the gaps on the eastern portion of the Montour have on-road detours that are safe and fairly easy (a few short climbs, one or two steep). For that matter, the on-road Clairton connector has some short climbs too, and it's considered finished.

The Montour is not like the GAP. You can ride the whole Montour today, safely and with no trespassing or railroad ballast (though there are some gravel parking lots and such). Don't let "unfinished" deter you from riding it.

Are the detours marked?

what's the surface like? is it crushed limestone for the whole way?

i would like to do that ride.

The first three detours have signs. The Triphammer Road to Snowden Road detour now has map boxes at each end. (Take a map and return it to the box at the far end.) For the other two, there weren't any map boxes yet, as of a month or so ago, and probably insufficient signage to navigate it unaided.

So it's a good idea to print out the bypass page from the Montour site and bring it with you, or bring a map for that area with the bike paths marked. The detours are all on Google's bike view.

@rsprake: The detours were unmarked the last time I did the loop. (I went town->McKeesport->Clairton->trail->Coraopolis for my loop...never gone the other direction). The detour info posted on the Montour Trail website was pretty good, though.

@hv: Mostly limestone, a little pavement.

It's asphalt in the section east of Route 51, the section east of Route 19 to where the Bethel Park branch splits off, the Snowden to Gill Hill section, and in a few other places. Including the 6 miles of on-road detours, I'd say roughly 15 of the 46 miles are asphalt, and the rest crushed limestone.

The detours may be marked but it's still easy to make a mistake if you're unfamiliar with the area. The most confusing bits are the approaches to Rt. 51. It's easy enough once you've done it, but you initially have to puzzle out stuff like the funereal home. I would strongly suggest printing off copies of the trail map. Checking out the detours on satellite view is also a good idea.

The trail is mostly limestone through it dwindles down to dirt on some stretches. There's an asphalt section somewhere in the middle. The on-road parts are fine.

I personally like the Montour a whole lot due to the variety; you travel through many different landscapes and run into all kinds of people. By contrast the GAP can be deathly boring: forest, more forest and finally some more forest. (Okay, with an occasional glimpse of the river.) On the other hand I've haven't been much past Ohiopyle so maybe it gets more interesting out east.

yeah, forest sucks. oh, wait...

I get what you mean Ahlir, it just take me longer to get bored with forest. Like I'm not sure it's happened yet.

Still, if the road parts are nice, and it's well marked, that's good to know, thank you guys.

Don't get me wrong: I love forests. Thing is, I'd much prefer to hike through them than to ride through them.

I finally made it out to try out the new trail, rode from the waterfront to mckeesport and it was very nice! I'm stoked to ride the full distance now. I might try to do am out and back camp overnight at ohiopyle one of these weekends.

Man, when they finish it, those condos at the waterfront should advertise hard to cyclists. Being able to get to downtown or the southside from your back porch with no roads would be kinda sweet.

Being able to get to downtown or the southside from your back porch with no roads would be kinda sweet.

And it's pancake flat. Pretty hard to find that 'round these parts.

Being able to get to downtown or the southside from your back porch with no roads would be kinda sweet.

The houses on Herr's Island (by the 31st Street Bridge) also have direct trail access from their porches. Do many cyclists live there?

Construction update:

June 12th

July 15th

Also: the track along the ballast is a bit less pleasant; the ground is disturbed and the stone is loose. I ended up having to walk part of the way.

I either worked up more courage after riding what feels like a long distance on worse terrain to get from where the millvale trail ends to sharpsburg (and then on to the waterworks) or there is more of a path in the area in the pics above, but I can say that I don't have to walk anymore! A few weeks ago I was proud of myself for just going at it and not eating shit on my way to the sandcastle parking lot. Now I woulnt do it on my road bike with skinnier, wussier tires. But the key is that you Just have to keep pedaling and let the bike move under you on big stones like this.

@Ahlir Is the fence in the elevated section of the new trail installed permanently?

Any construction equipment there?

@sloaps: no, it's temporary.

It's hard to see what's going on up top since the embankment is pretty steep and close to the railway. On the other hand they've spayed grass seed on the slope so maybe the site prep is finished and the next stage is paving.

@stefb: yeah, the right way to do it is to use a low gear and just keep plowing through.

Not low gear. Medium/high and momentum. Get some speed, stand up, stay loose and let the bike move around and over things as it wants to. You just worry about keeping your core balanced and keeping up your speed. Way easier than granny gearing it and plowing into the rocks. Same as a rock garden in the woods.

ah, I didn't mean that kind of low gear, I meant something that gives you sufficient torque to get up and over rocks. And I agree that you need to keep your speed up, otherwise you just sink into the ballast. My mistake yesterday was to forget to get off my large ring. Your mileage may vary.

If you are doing it right you don't need to power over the rocks.

so much to learn...

Example: much bigger bike and rocks, but same technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U71m6EPVK9I

It's good to see more trail progress. Do you think they will be done by the predicted 11/11/11?

It seems like it might happen.

this makes me excited!

Does anyone knows what is happening with the GAP gap?

It seemed like for a while we were making progress (remember 11-11-11?) At this point 12-12-12 is starting to look like a bit of a stretch. Hopefully we won't end up with a 13-13-13 completion date...

FYI, last year:

The knotweed is making better progress than the humans are, that's for sure.

They can't build the Sandcastle part until Sandcastle closes for the year on September 3rd, and I guess they're going to do the Keystone section at the same time.

I believe the knotweed is operating without the benefit of an agreement with the property owners, accounting for its quick progress.

A recent thread

An older thread

With any luck we'll see construction equipment in such photos next month.

I was just looking at Ahlir's post from a year ago and was thinking that I must have missed it when I took that route on Friday but then I realized the post was from a year ago and no progress has been made. So sad.

Yep over 1 year later...all to show for it... increased vegetative growth.

I frequently go through this section...can't wait for it to be finished!

that is just down right embarrassing.

What's embarrassing (to me) is the non-existent to disfunctional wayfinding support offered to transient bicyclists.

Quite often you meet bicyclists riding to/from DC who are either disoriented in McKeesport, flummoxed at Keystone Metals, or have spend a pointless hour on the McKeesport Loop.

Focusing on my breathing. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. Still kind of embarrassed at the low hospitality to strangers. Sorry to rant.

I have heard it's for insurance reasons that they can't have maps or any other information along the route. I suggested bike pgh maps and some detour info be posted at the Pump House.

The routing in McKeesport has been changing, so they may be reluctant to add a bunch more signs until it's stable. (They changed the routing around 11th Street a few years ago, and they're currently moving it off the Lysle Blvd sidewalk and onto 4th Street.)

We can create short redirecting URLs to something like ridewithgps, google maps, or something similar with route discription, then print both URL and QR-code and put it somewhere in McKeesport trails. So at least people with smart phones would be covered.

Remember that just because no construction has happened, it doesn't mean no one is working on this. There is a lot to work out on paper, behind the scenes, and a tremendous amount of patience and tenacity has been required. The GAP has taken 20+ years to build, imagine how the folks finishing this last section feel. Believe me, everyone wants this done.

Check out the steel valley trail newsletter linked below. There's a little bit of construction update and lots of other info.

http://www.steelvalleytrail.org/eNewsletters/eNewsletter120827.pdf

Quote from the newsletter: "We hope to make the longawaited, official connection of the Great Allegheny Passage with the Three Rivers Heritage

Trail this spring in time for the 2013 biking season."

"we HOPE"? and "for spring of 2013" has me a little worried that it won't even be ready for next years riding season....oh well...there is always 2014 I guess.

regardless, I still love the trails in western, PA and can't say how much I appreciate all the work that has been put into them.

my big desire is that the Sandcastle parking lot remains available to bicycles through the winter until such time as the trail is open.

+1 to Rambo's comment re I appreciate all the work and effort that has been put into arranging, coordinating, financing, building, and maintaining the trails.

Ok, not this year. A thank you to everyone for the information. I was a bit worried when I saw that Keystone had piled up materials on the supposed path (yes, I know that moving that stuff is not a big deal for those in the business, but still).

Sandcastle has been amazingly generous in ignoring bikers crossing their property (fortunately there's enough space so that one mostly doesn't get in the way of their customers).

Now that we're transitioning into fall (and winter), folks should remember that there are other ways to get through that stretch:

After the ballast, turn right and cross the tracks, follow Baldwin Rd to the intersection with Glass Run Rd then a couple of rights to get you onto Riverton St. The car traffic is crazy, but the lane is wide enough to accommodate a bike with a decent buffer. Alternately, turn under Riverton and proceed through the Wemco property. If you pass on the left of the factory you can use their main entrance to get on 7th Ave. Alternately, continue (or round the building by the left) until you get to the end of the property, where you can see the auto parts store across the tracks. Cross (you'll have to hoist your bike). Be mindful of business hours, so that you avoid workers and activity.

Go down 7th St then turn left on Amity St to cross into the Waterfront. Take the first right, which is the road behind the mall. Asphalt with light traffic, though ondulating for some reason. At the end you're within striking distance of the GAP.

Or just walk an extra couple hundred yard of ballast and then walk right on to the access road behind sandcastle. The lot is fenced. The road isn't.

Indeed, the ballast is a way to do it, as previous posts explained. I would add that it's a rather sensible choice if you're going east->west.

Riverton St does have a dismount option, stairs at the eastern end of the overpass that will get you to the street; there's even a path that you can then ride (but it can get pretty muddy).