Ribbon-cutting scheduled for completion of shared-use path on Springhill Road

All traffic restrictions are scheduled to end on Springhill Road in Harrison as construction on a new shared-use path nears completion.

“Our plan is to end the traffic restrictions on Thursday and complete the project by Monday,” Allegheny County Public Works spokesman Brent Wasko said Tuesday.

Some miscellaneous work, mostly seeding, on Friday will not require traffic restrictions, Wasko said.

Those plans could change because of weather or an unforeseen issue, such as an equipment malfunction.

“The remaining work includes installation of additional pavement markings, which requires dry conditions,” he said.

A ribbon-cutting has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday at Alsco Park, according to Allegheny County spokeswoman Amie Downs.

Traffic has been restricted on Springhill Road since April, when work started to build the 10-foot-wide, shared-use path on the northbound side of the road.

The two uphill lanes between North Canal Street and McWilliams Drive were closed, with the two downhill lanes used to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction.

The new path is intended to improve pedestrian and cycling connections between Natrona, Alsco Community Park and the neighborhoods and businesses along Freeport Road in Natrona Heights. It also is part of a plan to expand the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

The project will change the configuration of Springhill Road, which previously had two lanes in each direction, uphill and downhill.

Between North Canal Street and Karns Road, there will be two 12-foot lanes — one in each direction. The path is level with the road but separated from traffic by a 5-foot buffer area.

Between Karns Road and McWilliams Drive, there will be two lanes for uphill traffic — one 12 feet wide and the other, a truck climbing lane, 11 feet wide. There will be one 12-foot-wide lane for downhill traffic. In this area, the path is elevated and separated from traffic by a small buffer area and a curb.