Brackenridge trail nears final steps for construction
Walkers and bikers could be exercising along a new Brackenridge path by fall.
The borough’s section of the larger 33-mile Three Rivers Heritage Trail is in the final stages of pre-construction, according to officials from the nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront.
“We’ll be putting out bids soon for the section that runs from Mile Lock Lane to Morgan Street,” said Courtney Mahronich Vita, director of trail development.
Depending on the weather, work could begin in coming weeks.
The $455,000 project will be covered by three grants previously received by the borough. They include: $100,000 from the Allegheny County Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund; $60,400 from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; and $284,445 from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.
As proposed, the trail will stretch a half mile, which is the entire length of the borough. It is expected to boost safety because it will get bikers and walkers off the road and away from traffic.
It will be built along First Avenue, on the grassy side of the guardrail, with a view of the riverfront. The asphalt trail will be complemented by a new split-rail fence for added safety.
Mahronich Vita said plans are in the works for native plants to be installed along the stretch.
A second phase of construction is scheduled next summer for the section that will wind through Brackenridge Memorial Park.
Mayor Lindsay Fraser said the new trail is an exciting opportunity for borough officials to develop a local trail economy.
“We have a chance to invest in outdoor recreation opportunities and connect to similar regional efforts,” Fraser said.
Mahronich Vita said the Brackenridge segment is a critical link for the larger vision of the Heritage Trail.
“It will start connecting all these other pieces,” she said, referring to parts that stretch outward from Harrison to Freeport and Tarentum to Millvale.
“It’s the center of a 6- or 7-mile section, and I think this pushes everyone to keep moving on their plans.”
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.
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