Montour Trail-Letter

Volume 11, Issue 1

January/February, 2000

On November 22, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission completed construction of the 0.8 mile Montour Trail section between Snowden Road and Gill Hall Road in South Park Township and Jefferson Hills Borough. The trail was built next to Piney Fork Road Extension. It is a 10 foot-wide asphalt-paved trail just outside and parallel to the new roadway shoulder.

Rather than build an expensive bridge for the Mon-Fayette Expressway over Snowden Road, the Turnpike closed the road to build a fill. They built the extension road over the former Pennsylvania Railroad corridor to outlet the closed Snowden Road to Gill Hall Road.

The Turnpike built us this trail for two reasons. First, we had previously planned to place our trail along their route. Second, the public may use the trail to view the wetland mitigation area built by the Turnpike along Peters Creek. The Turnpike will also provide a paved parking lot at Snowden Road where Piney Fork Road was relocated to intersect with the new extension road.

The Turnpike Commission will convey the trail to Allegheny County. Montour Trail Council will then maintain the trail under its Management Contract with the County.

We are now meeting with Jefferson Hills officials to discuss extending the trail eastward along Peters Creek Road. The Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad, which is out of service, may also become available in the future for a 3 mile extension to Route 51. We are also meeting with South Park Township Supervisors to discuss alternate ways to connect the Turnpike's section with the completed South Park section.