WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — A local section of the Great Allegheny Passage is closed indefinitely.
The Kennywood segment of the trail, between the Whitaker flyover and the Port Perry flyover in West Mifflin, closed in early July while contractors began addressing rockfall hazards.
The trail was expected to reopen later in July, but the closure was extended to August. Now the closure is indefinite.
The Regional Trail Corporation says this decision follows scaling operations that located two “large, highly unstable rock hazards along the hillside above the trail.”
“Extending a trail closure indefinitely during peak season is a difficult decision, and we fully recognize the inconvenience it causes to cyclists, hikers, and local trail-town businesses,” said Mark Place, RTC board president. “However, as trail stewards, our primary responsibility is user safety. Even if the trail surface appears clear, the potential risk of overhead rockfall requires us to rely on certified engineering assessments before moving forward. We will not compromise public safety.”
These rock formations, which pose a significant safety risk to trail users. cannot be safely remediated through standard clearing methods. So, the RTC is soliciting remediation plan proposals from rockfall engineers.
RTC says remediation would not begin until late autumn, at the earliest.
The licensed shuttle that helps trail users bypass the closed segment will run through at least Sept. 30, RTC says.
The shuttle operates seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per person and the ride takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. While credit cards are accepted, shuttle operators prefer cash payments.
Travelers could also use Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s 59 or 61C bus routes.
Bicyclists are urged to use the shuttle instead of biking on State Route 837 as a detour. RTC warns that high vehicle speeds, narrow shoulders and heavy traffic make State Route 837 a dangerous option for bicycle traffic.
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