BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I just rode that trail today. There was also some scary debris on it right near the train bridge. There was some construction being done on it. First time on that trail this year, and they really cleared the area near the glenwood bridge. I love the duck hollow trail, but unfortunately the Hazelwood trail is closed. That was a bummer. That is my route into the city.

A few years ago I packed some shears and cleared the bit between tne Glenwood and the rail bridge (and other hazards further east). But that's not my job or yours. This is really a city responsibility. I would call 311, and/or start nagging the relevant city council member. The rail company has been expanding its yard, so lots is changing at the Glenwood end. I'm optimistic. (But really, we could be happy with a simple trail extension to Vespucius. The access roads are good enough though.) Popping across the Glenwood will get you on a trail to the city (modulo a couple of stairs).

I haven't seen the spots in question, but I suspect the undergrowth in question is knotweed. This is very difficult to control. Ideally you don't want to cut it but rather uproot it. I've been trying my hand at cutting back the growth in a couple of places, but it's almost pointless. There's so much of it, it's so hard to pull out, and you never get it all so have to go back time and time again.

Yes it is Invasive species Japaneese Knotweed , it is a very wet area and that stuff does not let anything else grow >

also how many of you carry a chain tool with your kit ?

Every single time, no reason not to. My minimal kit is a patch kit, pedros levers, crank bros multi 19 (with chain tool), leyzene pressure drive pump inside a pencil case, which fits easily in a jersey pocket.

Just wanted to share an update on this trail in case it will be helpful to other users. As the previous poster described, the rail company has been expanding in that area, and today I observed them finalizing a fence installation. The new fence is at the very end of the Duck Hollow Trail and prevents any connectivity to/from 2nd Ave. and/or the Glenwood bridge. Making this connection has always required crossing CSX private property - that being said I'm guessing the future holds increased train activity, thus a desire by CSX to keep people out/safe. I often traverse the Glenwood bridge from the GAP trail. This would also be my route to commute to work to Oakland via Duck Hollow -> Frick -> Forbes. Now, the option is 2nd Ave. Hope this news is useful to someone.

Interesting. There used to be a chain link fence surrounding that end of the trail. Then it was removed. I wonder if the same configuration is being reinstalled.

Good work CSX. It's even better with the hazelwood trail closed too.

Benzo, there is a small yard just towards city and you have to cross 5 tracks to get to the trail. Trains and cars can go any directions at any time. And they don't have lights. Yard is controlled by special people, not even by dispatchers. A regular crew should get a special kind of clearance to be able to work there. If CSX is going to increase traffic there (I will see it first hand since my current project is CAD for CSX) then this place is one accident asking to happen (if people continue to cross).

Can someone come up with a rough design and probable cost estimate for a switchback arrangement and bridge to get trail traffic up and over the tracks?

I think the Whitaker and Port Perry bridges on the GAP were $1-2 million each. The whole section from Duquesne to Homestead was $6 million. I'd guess this one would be in that $1-2 million range too.

This needs done . the fence is a step backwards , I kind of liked the don't ask don't tell policy so we can wing it till it is ! As you know this is an important link

The least expensive (albeit least accessible, other than nothing) option would be a simple set of stairs connecting Duck Hollow to the sidewalk on the bridge. Would match the stairs on the south end of the bridge, so make a reasonably viable connector betwixt Steel Valley and Duck Hollow trails . For outbound traffic on 885, we'd probably want explicit signage well back from the bridge directing trail-seekers to cross to the left sidewalk. Some calming measures for inbound traffic coming off the bridge would be nice, too, but I'm not holding my breath.

Stairs might be prohibited by the ADA. But even a ramp up to an existing bridge would probably be cheaper than a whole new GAP-style bridge. On the other hand, the Mon Wharf switchback ramp was originally budgeted at $3 million. But that location probably has more difficulties than the one in Duck Hollow, and I think the ramp there will be higher too.

There's a sign as you head down Old Browns Hill Rd toward Duck Hollow saying "bridge closed 12/17, 9am-3pm". I presume they're speaking of the bridge over Nine Mile Run that connects to McFarren St and the Duck Hollow neighborhood. I've heard that the work will take several days and they're planning to keep the bridge passable outside of work hours each day.

So... does anyone know if they've been plowing Duck Hollow trail regularly this winter? Seems like a silly question, I know, except that when I went down there this past Sunday morning (with new XC skis) it was plowed. I feel like a heel complaining about it being plowed if it's now part of trail maintenance for bikers and walkers.

Interesting, I don't know why they would plow it, considering there are fences now by the tracks by the glenwood bridge. I wonder if that was a volunteer crew?

I'm not sure if it is maintained by the city or volunteers. As for why they plow it, maybe so that people can use it. ;-) (Commuting isn't the only use)

Not cleared 3/6 city plow was there to do lot mostly foot & dog trappled snow .

Old thread, revived. There was a meeting on 3/28 at which plans for the new bridge over Nine Mile Run Trail in Duck Hollow were presented. No big surprises:

• Old bridge (called, somewhat confusingly, "Second Ave Bridge"), which has a low weight limit, to be left as-is, for car access to kayak launch and for future Carrie Furnace Trail use.
• New concrete bridge (called McFarren Ave Bridge) to be built upstream of the railroad bridge, from March-October 2019.
• Asphalt along east bank of Nine Mile Run between those two bridges to be ripped up, to reduce car use of old bridge.

https://flic.kr/p/25BfwS9

All in all, this seems like a pretty ideal situation for the bridge replacement as far as limiting closures and retaining access for future trail users.