Will they be routing travelers with any detour info? I'd hate to ride in from outside of the city only to find the trail I was expected is closed off.
2010-06-11 22:38:44
18
Temporary Trail Closure to begin June 21st on South Side Trail
Can't say this is the worst thing in the world. just shortens the ss trail a bit.
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.
2010-06-11 21:56:49
you know as much as i do right now. this was a complete surprise to me
2010-06-12 03:40:49
Shit how can i get to the waterfront now? No way in hell I am gonna ride on 837
2010-06-14 14:29:04
@Willie: 2nd Ave/885 to the Glenwood Bridge, then either 837 through Homestead or cut into Sandcastle. Not too bad a ride, although the death vortex of ramps at the Glenwood/885/837/Glass Run Rd intersection can be unlovely in traffic.
2010-06-14 14:48:29
seems reasonable, I will try it out very soon when i head out to the GAP
2010-06-14 14:59:48
Or take 2nd ave to Glenwood Bridge - go under bridge across tracks and pick up the paved trail to duck hollow, then HiLevel/Homestead Greys bridge to waterfront (it has sidewalks). The only issue is the tracks (look for trains!) and the climb out of duck hollow to the bridge.
2010-06-14 23:18:49
i wonder how "closed" it will be. like if you really really need to get thru, they might let you
2010-06-15 15:15:24
Half the trails in Schenley Park are "closed". At least that is what the signs say. It hasn't really stopped anyone though.
2010-06-15 15:30:59
Marko82's route has advantages and disadvantages over reddan's. It comes down to if you're willing to deal with traffic, a big hill climb, or crossing/riding next to active train tracks. My personally recommended route would be Second Ave to the Glenwood Bridge, mount the sidewalk on the approach to the bridge, carry the bike down the few flights of stairs down to Baldwin Road and find your way to Sandcastle and their road to the Waterfront.
I personally just don't like the Duck Hollow route as it would involve about four quick rail crossings, and a steep climb up Old Browns Hill Road, which is kinda pointless considering you would start and end right about river level.
2010-06-15 16:29:56
Thanks for the route suggestions guys. I have actually taken markos route in the past but in reverse. It works for me except the last time I rode that way I was pulling a fully loaded trailer and it was a chore to get it over the tracks. Also that routes adds a bit to the ride when I have all my camping gear with me, but not much I can do about that. Erok brings up a good point too. It may be closed but maybe if they see me with a trailer and all sorts of gear they may think I rode really far to get there and just let me pass. Guess all I can do is try. If that dosent work I will probably try reddans route since it is a new way for me. After all I would need to compare the different ways to choose what one works best for me.
2010-06-15 16:42:06
Timing makes a difference, too. If you're doing it early AM, there will be very little traffic outbound, so an on-road ride will be more pleasant. If you're talkin' evening rush hour on a Friday, trying to talk/sneak through the trail construction may be a better bet.
2010-06-15 17:13:06
is there a trail that goes from sylvan ave (greenfield) to sylvan ave (hazelwood)? i've biked up that greenfield portion a few times and don't remember seeing anything, but someone posted something about it, and it looks like there's a break in the trees there.
might be an alternative to 2nd ave, which i never considered much fun.
2010-06-15 17:13:18
HV: Did you mean THIS?:
It's a rough shod trail to be sure, but it works if you're up for it. The problem is it doesn't really go anywhere. I just wish there was a better way to connect it to the upper portion of Greenfield or Hazelwood in the direction of the Glenwood Bridge.
2010-06-15 17:58:45
I take 885 from Panther Hollow trail and go over the bridge and into West Mifflin. I've gone in the middle of rush hour traffic in the afternoon.
I don't think I've ever really had a problem. Take the whole lane. When you cross the bridge watch for merging traffic from the right.
There is a huge shoulder you can ride on and then just have to cross one lane if you're continuing on 885.
2010-06-16 02:50:46
I have crossed the tracks under the Glenwood Bridge. Trains there are sometimes moving 40 to 45 mph, which is damn quick. You are definitely taking your life in your hands if you do this. I would certainly not try to haul a trailer over those tracks.
We really need a FtDuqBr-type structure for the Glenwood Bridge, both for the tracks and the river. That would open up the whole Mon Valley and Turtle Creek Valley to direct, fast, safe cycle traffic.
2010-06-16 10:40:53
Regarding the "how closed will it be" comment. They've installed the south gate a long way from the construction... where there was already a gate consisting of a big bar. But the new gate is chain-link and will be locked during the day. So, there'll be no one around to wave you through from that end. Since that one's closed, I can't see anyone waving you through from the North end since you can't exit the other if they let you pass. So, not something I'd rely.
2010-06-18 22:11:58
New Bikefest contest: Who can scale a fence, while carrying their bike, the fastest.
2010-06-18 22:57:27