BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Where do you get to it? I know it's part of the plan to be able to walk / ride all the way to the river.

I parked on commercial ave by the Irish centre and walked under the parkway bridge towards the slag piles. There is a trail that goes all the way to Browns Hill road.

that new bridge has been there atleast a couple months.I saw it back in mid april going from Point Breeze to the Waterfront.I was also wondering how long it's been there??

They started work on it in late April.

May 5th

May 18th

May 18th

Since the 18th they have added some stone pillars on the entry and exit

@pratt, fabulous pics!

I went through there this past week-end. The path from the south end of the bridge looks like it's finally finished (packed crushed stone) and you can ride it without dismounting. The last bit to (Old) Brownsville Road is still a mess but it's pretty flat, so just a bumpy ride.

Official opening for the trail is supposed to be this July.

thanks

we still need a better way to connect to the Jail Trail from this, but a good start.

This is the first I've heard of this being completed. Did I miss some grand announcement or did this swing in under the radar?

I'll need to get down there to take a look for myself.

It's not officially completed; that's in July. There's still stuff missing (like a fence).

But you can now ride the trail without interruption, on a decent surface.

How much did the bridge cost? Anyone know?

Does this bridge have a troll yet? Cuz I think I know one who is looking for a new hangout.

Now that this trail connects to the Steel Valley trail, at the bottom of Old Brownshill Road, are they going to build a trail going west,Hot Metal Bridge,(Hazelwood), and the opposite direction,east towards Rankin Bridge??

There is a trail/ old road that runs out of duck hollow toward Braddock. It's not the best but it's passable. It goes by the old Carrie Furnace.

like mntbiker said it's passable, but it's also not an open trail. There are no trespassing signs so just sayin' fyi.

It is planned to be a trail, but that will be a long time yet to get all the land agreements and building done.

We've mentioned in a few other threads the need for some means of solving a set of problems in the Glenwood Bridge area.

Last summer I biked from the Jail Trail to Braddock, which involved crossing live (and fast!) tracks by the Glenwood Bridge as well as ignoring the signs Tabby mentioned between Duck Hollow and Carrie Furnace. If we can get those resolved, Braddock to town would be a fast, sweet ride.

While this bridge is going to make it a lot easier to get to Duck Hollow, it's also going to put a lot more pressure on The Powers That Be to get those other things resolved.

If a good bike connection could be completed to Braddock, it would sure help Mayor Fetterman accomplish some of the cool urban happenings that his (extremely optimistic) vision includes. Keep fighting the Mon Valley expwy.

i would think he would be a natural ally for us in this. has anyone talked to him?

they built a bridge without having all the land agreements in place? Does that strike anyone else as getting the "cart before the horse"?

icemanbb, They are all set to the river. From there on I don't know. I believe http://www.ninemilerun.org/ is handling the trail to the river.

@cburch- I talked to him about it maybe 3 years ago...talked to some upmc people more recently (some of whom are still in braddock even since the hospital closed). I think there is more interest in the carrie furnace trail from the duck hollow side than the braddock side.

The 15104.cc site hasn't been updated in a long time. I really hope they're just not over.

The Braddock side is a virtual bike expressway, an abandoned but paved street. From what I gather, it is what used to be Second Avenue many decades ago. You can still see brick and some trolley tracks popping through.

The Braddock road is a very nice ride. You can imagine the trolleys full of steelworkers going back and forth between Braddock and the mill. Also if you do some poking around, you may find the ruins of stairs up the hillside, connecting Rankin to the mill entrance.

And going further off topic, recommended: Out of this Furnace

Just checked out the bridge/trail yesterday. The bridge is very nicely done to be sure. I find it funny that I was exploring this trail mere months ago and there was no sign of bridge construction (had to ford the stream) and then this thread pops up. There is still work to be done on the trail to be sure, most of the length of the approach to the bridge from the Frick Park side still looks like a dirt service road.

It looks like the trail will be small to medium sized crushed limestone, and there may or may not be a path up to the Summerset development (there's clearly a construction path from the trail up to there. If that path becomes legit, this would mean that one could have safe passage from the bottom of the Nine Mile Run Valley to Squirrel Hill without having to go to the north end of the valley or risking life and limb trying to climb dangerous Forward Ave. My personal preference would be to see a contiguous PAVED trail, so bikes of all sorts could use it as a route, but in this case I'll take what I can get.

And again, in agreement with Stu here, all these trails seem to be converging in a way that makes it almost necessary to do SOMETHING with the Glenwood Bridge and/or a trail or path on the Hazelwood side of the river.

And going further off topic, recommended: Out of this Furnace

+1

I was down there a couple of months ago mountain biking, cool pics, btw. That new bridge looks cool, will have to check it out.

Hi, I know this is an old thread, but has anyone biked this recently? Does it require a full mountain bike or will a hybrid be fine? Is it a difficult trail? I live in Swissvale and I would love to ride this to the river if it's safe and not too difficult. Thanks

I last rode there last summer so things may be somewhat different at the moment...

Once the trail work was finished there was crushed limestone from Commercial to Old Brownsville (more or less). A hybrid would do just fine. The approaches to the bridge are a bit steep so I can imagine some erosion but other than that it should be great.

Absolutely safe and easy, you'll love it.

Hybrid will do fine, just be ready for loose gravel here and there.

I just came back from a quick ride -

I went from commercial to the trail, crossed a small bridge and ended up on Old Browns Hill Road, which takes you to the river on the opposite side of the waterfront.

There is a trail there called Duck Hollow Trail -

According to Google Maps, this trail ends near the Glenwood bridge and a railroad bridge.

Are there any ways to get over the river from this point? Just curious...

This is the place of which I speak.

Follow the trail to the end, carry your bike through the rubbish, mud and broken glass over the half dozen railroad tracks and ballast (illegal) and then take the little dirt parking lot up to the bridge. From there you can bike across the river.

The legal way would be to go back, and up Old Browns Hill Road, then cross on the Homestead Greys Bridge. That way also has the advantage of not requiring you to cross a bunch of active railroad tracks and risk having a really, really bad day.

Legal? Just be careful. I mean that: this is an active yard and you never know when cars might start to move. If you're blocked, head west until you hit the end of the train (east is no good for this).

Anyway, once you reach the official end of Duck Hollow, keep going through the grove to under the bridge. Carry your bike over the track, then ride around to get on the bridge. The pedestrian walkway is the right choice (well, it depends on you and on the time of day). At the end you have stairs. Go down the stairs and head east (left). There's another set of stairs; go down and you are on a street.

What's next depends on where you're going.

Well, I'm not sure where I'm going, exactly. Will I be able to make a left after the bridge and head to the waterfront? Thanks for the replies

Will I be able to make a left after the bridge and head to the waterfront?

Right now, there's construction so you have to and a weird loop-de-loop taking you to Glass Run, then Ashby/Baldwin, then finally Riverton to 7th Street. Follow the (highway) signs to Homestead to get there.

Presumably in the absence of construction, it's a lot easier.

Note, ieverhart's instructions assume you stick to the roadway.

If you follow my instructions, once you're at the bottom of the 2nd stairs, you can go left and eventually enter the Sandcastle property, or you can go under Riverton and through the Whemco property to 7th, or up the next stairs to Riverton. All will eventually get you to Waterfront. As I pointed out earlier, it all depends on your tolerance for biking through fast traffic.

Check it all out on Google Maps.

Thanks Guys, I might try it today!

I tried it with some mixed results:

I walked over the train tracks (feeling like I was in a movie or something...never done that before) and found my way to the bridge. I didn't take the pedestrian walkway though, I think I just missed it the first time, so I rode with traffic over the bridge. There was not a lot of traffic so it was fine. But after that I was in the whole construction mess. I didn't really know the roads too well so I just decided to ride back over the bridge...

Then I actually tried the pedestrian walkway. At the end of the bridge, there was a ton of weeds and growth. It was not well-kept at all. There was a tiny little path through the brush, but I decided not to go any further.

Overall, it was a good ride. I've never really explored like that.

What I would like to know is - is this part of frick's "9 mile run?" or not?

Also, I was looking at this map, and I would like to know if this is outdated? It would be cool to have a path from there to Oakland, but it seems like there is no trail connecting Hazelwood to Oakland.

You can get to Greeenfield Ave from 2nd Ave.

9 mile run is a creek that runs underneath the east end and flows into the Mon. http://www.ninemilerun.org/overview/

Italianblend: It's too bad you didn't make it all the way. The lack of maintenance is a pain, but you can just walk your bike through those spots (they're pretty contained). Actually last year I was annoyed enough to bring along shears and cut back some of the weeds. But I do encourage you to go exploring on that side of the river. Homestead is really neat once you get to know it.

I'm not sure I'd call the Friends of the Riverfront map outdated, but it omits other trails. Maybe that's because it's only intended as a map of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail system?

Here's an up-to-date map that includes other trails in that area. In particular, it includes the Nine Mile Run Trail into Frick Park, and the new section of the GAP, plus possible future trails.

@ Steven Great map!I'm looking forward to all the new trails.

It looks like that access to trails from either side of Glenwood Bridge will remain a PITA for some time to come.

I wish there were unlimited funds to complete that network. I could ride from my house to Frick Park and have a lot of options on where to go.

It looks like glenwood bridge is going to be part of the trail! Are there any time frames for these?

Ahlir, don't worry I will explore a bit more down there. I'm hoping to eventually make a loop down to the waterfront and back over the Rankin Bridge, then back to Swissvale.

Has anyone ever made the trek from the east end to the north hills?

No time frame as far as I know. Some parts of the trail shouldn't be all that hard, from Duck Hollow to the Rankin Bridge for example. You can already ride that section if you can brave some mud, pot holes and rough pavement.

w.r.t. Rankin Bridge to Swissvale, my preferred route goes via Monongahela Avenue, and then hits two overpasses and a little sidewalk detour, avoiding most of the unpleasant traffic. Maybe everybody knows this route, maybe not.

@italianblend - A couple of July 4ths ago, I biked from McCandless to Rankin and back Downtown, then caught a bus home. This involved jumping the tracks from Irvine/2d to Duck Hollow Trail.

Those freight trains and occasional Amtrak heading east from the city are rolling along at a good clip by that point, and it isn't clear which track they're on as you jump them. That maneuver is not something to do often, never mind it being illegal.

That aside, I had a wonderful trip through West View, Bellevue, Downtown, EFT, then exploring Irvine and Second. I'd never been on the DHT, and had no idea even how to approach Carrie Furnace. The old brick road that extends west from Braddock was fascinating, though, as was exploring Braddock itself.

I returned via various streets until I got to the East Busway, where a paved path parallels the busway pretty much the entire distance from Rankin to Wilkinsburg except through Edgewood. Figuring out how to get from one edge of the missing piece to the other requires its own explanation.

Sometime this summer, I'm going to head over to Frick. Except for the Blue Slide area, I know almost nothing about the trails around Frick.

@ Nate: I knew OF that route - in theory. Good to see a map.

+1 on being very careful about crossing train tracks. Trains cannot slam on their brakes and fully loaded ones can takes miles to stop. Before I cross tracks, I always remind myself to be prepared to ditch my bike and dive out of the way if necessary.

Re: crossing train tracks. I don't endorse unofficial crossings, but at the Glenwood Bridge/Duck Hollow area, there are around five tracks going parallel to one another and merging into one another. At various points, the tracks split up. Nobody should ever cross tracks illegally (or do anything illegal, ever), but a safer way to do it, rather than rushing all 5, would be to find a spot where they are split up like that, cross 2 (pause in safety zone between tracks, look both ways, listen for oncoming trains signified by squeaking metal), cross 1 (pause again) and then cross the final 2.

@ieverhart -- since no one should ever cross tracks illegally, that must include you. So this can't be the voice of experience speaking here, can it?

Well, if you want to be slightly more legal, ride west until you reach the at-grade crossing and use that. Of course you're still on RR property. There are some buildings with people working around them, but nobody has bothered with me (so far).

--> I just checked the map: it has it as Vespucius Street (and, StreetView goes on it).

What is the ballast situation from Duck hollow to Vespucius? I've never thought of going that far…

Here is a link to Google Maps.

Vespucius is an awesome street name. I might have to go exploring just to find it.

It would be a good name for a fluorescent orange scooter designed to ride up a volcano.

YES, with rhinestone covered fenders. I shall enjoy that mental image for some time to come, thank you.

The ballast was pretty crappy last summer (deep and uncompacted). I remember tumbling (gotta stop doing that). Anyway, it's bad near the bridge but pretty soon you can hop the first set of tracks and get onto a dirt road. It's fine thereafter.

The solution of course (and this is probably the third thread I've said this on) is to get a switchback structure from DHT to the Glenwood Bridge, similar to Hot Metal or Fort Duquesne Bridges. I really hope we don't have to have a human sacrifice to get us the attention we need. If history is any guide, just the random getting yelled at by train people gains us nothing.

@stu:

A switchback ramp might not be necessary on the north end of the Glenwood Bridge if an adequate at-grade crossing with crossbucks, lights, and gates were made at the service road splitting off of 2nd Ave to the Duck Hollow Trail.

It would be cheaper of course, but would carry higher liability. However, at-grade rail crossings with pedestrians and bicycles seem to work just fine along the South Side trail, so why not here? The big issue for all involved is knowing WHEN the trains are coming.

As for some sort of ramp on the SOUTH end of the bridge near the junkyard? Yeah, that probably would have to happen.

So I did this trail for my commute home last night on a whim.

It did not go well. Well, the first 2/3's was awesome, even if Irwin St was a little traffic-y.

But then, after crossing the bridge on the steep hill towards Frick park my chain leapt of the the chain ring. (Totally my fault, I didn't ease off when changing gears.)

The resulting sudden stoppage of the wheel made my shoe unclip. My foot came down hard on the pedal, which unfortunately for me was a spiky half platform.

Would have been fine, but I was wearing commuter sandals at the time.

Any trackers out there may be able to follow the blood trail to my house.

So remember kids, always have proper gear when trying a new trail!

Oh, and remember kids #2... trying the hill from Frick up to Hutchinson after a fair bit of blood loss is not a good idea. Wooziness will result.

Which group was responsible for DHT? Was it the SVT group?

The signal/detection for 5 tracks is going to add quickly, I wouldn't be surprised if a switchback structure wasn't that much more expensive, if not the same.

Sometime I'd like to see a 3-way race from, say, S. Braddock & Hutchinson to, say, Smithfield and 6th Avenue, starting at 6:45 a.m.: one by car, one by bus, one by bike. Assuming one does not get clobbered by a train, or a car on Irvine/2nd, I'd wager the bike would win, the bus second, the car third. Having this bridge in place is a big piece of that path. Having a safe way over the tracks would make it even better.

Which group was responsible for DHT? Was it the SVT group?

The SVT map says no. The color coding says they handle only trail outside the city limits. So they're doing the Sandcastle section of the GAP but not the adjacent Keystone section, and the future Rankin Hot Metal Bridge conversion and the eastern part of the future trail toward Duck Hollow, but not the western part that actually connects up to Duck Hollow.

I guess Friends of the Riverfront and/or the city is behind the Duck Hollow Trail. Maybe other groups like Riverlife too.

@impala would be cheaper of course, but would carry higher liability. However, at-grade rail crossings with pedestrians and bicycles seem to work just fine along the South Side trail, so why not here?

My impression is trains slow down for crossings, so the railroads would oppose any new crossings.

For the Southside, the roads may well have been there before the railroads were built.

It seems reasonable they'd slow down, but Wikipedia says that on most mainline track, freight has a 60 mph speed limit, and passenger trains have an 80 mph speed limit. Signaling further lowers those speeds in some areas.

Meanwhile, this page says that at standard grade crossings, trains are additionally restricted to 110 mph.

So it seems like this limit on crossings would only matter for those few lines (all in the Northeast Corridor) that are capable of speeds over 110 mph. Around here they wouldn't have to slow down, as they never get close to the 110 mph limit for grade crossings. I guess they might slow down anyway, though, even if the Feds don't seem to require it.

But given the way the railroads insist on fencing whenever a trail gets anywhere near trains, I can't imagine they'd agree to a trail crossing 5 tracks if they didn't have to. Just like on the Steel Valley Trail, it'll have to be a bridge over the tracks (or maybe up to the Glenwood Bridge).

Trains don't change speed for crossings. They blow the horn at crossings. You keep or get out of their way. Hence the term right of way.

I just came back from a ride - I went over glenwood bridge and walked down the steps and eventually found my way to the waterfront through 8th or 7th ave. Then back over the Rankin Bridge. I think there's some poison ivy on that path and I'm just hoping I didn't get any! I seem to get a batch every year. Other than that, it was a good ride.

I found the DC bike path that spits out at the waterfront too. What are the "exits" in this path?

For which part? You can ride the waterfront portion and get off anywhere, but there is no real way to do it without hoping a curb into a parking lot.

You mean the Steel Valley Trail from Homestead down to McKeesport?

You can leave it in Duquesne at Grant Street. There's at least one other spot with a gate leading to an access road that I assume goes up to Route 837, but I'm not sure just where.

Forgot to mention I met a nice man at the end of duck hollow. We hopped the trails together. Nice guy.

Today I made it all the way to Hot Metal Bridge! Definately expanding.

The only way back to the waterfront from there is carson street right? No trails or anything along the river?

The trail will eventually connect, but for now you can't legally get back to the Waterfront from South Side.

@ italian blend The only way back to the waterfront from there is carson street right?

There is no other legal way.

I've heard (umm...from "a friend") that people follow along the railroad tracks from the end of the southside/Baldwin trail to Sandcastle.

But I can't really imagine anyone here ///ever\ trespassing as opposed to doing the legal thing risking life and limb on Carson St.

Note that there's a water plant project, if you go that way. Previous thread here.

The folks building the trail there keep asking people not to trespass through that area until the trail is built, to keep the property owners giving up their land for the trail happy. People do though.

Google maps is showing a trail next to water street: here.

This is the trail that is not ready yet?

@italianblend Google maps is showing a trail next to water street

That trail is done. (Perhaps blocked on part of it for workdays for a non-trail project, but done all the same).

The trail ends a few hundred yards before the Gelenwood Bridge (as your map shows) and negotiations are ongoing to complete it there.