Cross-country cyclist Joe Miota timed it just about right.
Though it was coincidental, he found himself on one end of the Whitaker Bridge along the Steel Valley Trail while, on the other side, a ceremony celebrating the opening of the bridge and a new, three-mile section of trail beyond it leading into Duquesne was occurring Friday morning.
'We`d heard it was going to be a little difficult,' said Miota — who is in the process of cycling from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco — referring to his and his traveling partner`s journey from McKeesport to Pittsburgh. But instead of the trip taking him along Route 837 through various Steel Valley communities as it would have until very recently, Miota was able to take the new blacktopped section of trail, which is part of the Great Allegheny Passage.
He met scores of cyclists and strollers coming up the new bridge, which runs parallel to the Union and Norfolk Southern railroad tracks and is on railroad property.
Trail officials, state and county planners and local leaders were among hundreds attending the event marking the opening of the new trail, which now links the Waterfront with the Riverton Bridge between Duquesne and McKeesport.
'Instead of miles to go, we literally have feet to go,' said Andy Munster, president of the Steel Valley Trail Council, referring to the ever-shortening distance of incomplete trail between Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh.
Allegheny County economic development director Dennis Davin said Munster was right.
'We`re not only feet away, were probably only months away (from completing the trail),' Davin said.
The last section of trail that remains incomplete is a short portion near Sandcastle Waterpark. That section linking the Mon Valley with a trail on Pittsburgh`s South Side is expected to be finished by fall.
Allegheny Trail Alliance president Linda McKenna Boxx said this newest section of trail cost approximately $6 million to complete and wouldn`t have been possible without support from PennDOT, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Allegheny Regional Asset District board, the Pittsburgh Foundation and numerous other private charities and foundations.
Trail planners said much thanks goes to U.S. Steel, the railroad companies and other private businesses for allowing the trail to pass through land that is still used for heavy industry.
Regional Trail Corp. project manager Jack Paulik reminded users that the new section is 'rail with trail' as opposed to 'rail to trail.' The railroad tracks that run alongside the trail and are crossed twice by the trail at the Whitaker and Port Perry bridges are heavily used, which was apparent at the ceremony as several speakers had to raise their voices in order to be heard above the rumble and screech of passing freight trains.
'Please stay within the confines of the trail corridor. You are a guest,' said Paulik, noting that the trail is on railroad property and that Union Railroad moved one of its tracks to accommodate the bike lane.
Given the proximity of the railroad tracks and an active coke gas pipeline further down the trail in Duquesne, Paulik said the project presented many challenges for engineers.
The hard work paid off, many speakers at the event noted, with a trail that truly gives riders a feel for the region`s industrial heritage.
Sights to be seen along the new section of trail include Kennywood Park and remnants of the old mills in Duquesne located in what is now known as the RIDC City Center of Duquesne industrial park. Visible across the river from the trail is the still-active U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock and the Westinghouse Bridge between East Pittsburgh and North Versailles Township.
Mark Danison, who works at the Edgar Thomson plant, was among many local cyclists who gathered for the official opening of the trail. Danison said he regularly rides trails around his home in New Kensington and is excited about the expansion of the Steel Valley Trail.
Decked out in cycling gear with his bike at his side, he said, 'I wanted to experience this because I haven`t done it yet.'
