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Sunday, April 07, 2002

By Larry Walsh, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

When the "Missing Link" on The Montour Trail officially opens Friday, anglers as well as bicyclists will be pleased.

Peter Kohnke, president of the Montour Trail Council, is joined by other members of the council along a new three-mile section of The Montour Trail. From left to right in back are Dennis Pfieffer, John Hooton, Tom Daily, Frank Ludwin and David Wright. The new section, dubbed "The Missing Link," connects Boggs Station to Quicksilver Road. The completion of the section, which will be officially opened Friday, gives users almost 18 miles of uninterrupted trail from Coraopolis to McDonald. (Franka Bruns, Post-Gazette)

The three-mile section of trail will make it easier for fishermen to try their luck in Montour Run, a stocked stream that parallels the trail. And the new section will make it possible for bicyclists to pedal almost 18 miles of uninterrupted trail from Coraopolis in Allegheny County to McDonald in Washington County.

To mark the considerable contributions both counties made to the trail, the opening ceremony will be where the trail crosses the joint border of the counties -- from North Fayette in Allegheny County to Robinson in Washington County. State Route 980 parallels the trail in that area.

The ceremony will acknowledge those who have contributed time, money, materials and equipment to the development of the trail, which is built on the right-of-way of the old Montour Railroad. There were also be an unveiling of a commemorative sign and -- weather permitting -- a brief walk or ride. Refreshments will be served, too.

The "Missing Link" connects two previously completed segments of the trail -- 11 miles from Boggs north to Coraopolis, and four miles from an area near the Quicksilver Golf Course south to the McDonald Trestle.

The Montour Trail Council, formed 13 years ago, was the region's first nonprofit organization to be created solely for the purpose of building a trail. The bicyclists, runners, environmentalists and railroad enthusiasts who created the council have accomplished a lot since they first organized.

And the way the council went about completing the "Missing Link" is a good example of what a determined and multitalented group can do.

The first item on the agenda was a bridge over Route 980 at Quicksilver. Volunteers began that task in March 2000 and completed it in September. Then they set about doing the subgrade and paving work from Boggs to the bridge.

The council is a member of the Allegheny Trail Alliance, a coalition of seven rails-trails groups in southwestern Pennsylvania and western Maryland. The accomplishments of the alliance and its members are reminiscent of the feats of the famed Navy Construction Battalions in World War II and the Seabee's motto:

"Can do."

The Montour Trail Council now has 32 miles of trail in active use in Allegheny and Washington counties. When completed, its "Main Line" will run 47 miles from Coraopolis to Clairton.

The Montour Trail is part of the Great Allegheny Passage network of rails-trails that will connect Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

If you would like to attend the opening ceremony, park at the Boggs trailhead on Boggs Run Road, just off Route 980, and walk or bike about 1.3 miles to the site. Limited shuttle service will be available, but reservations are required. Call Joe Seibel at 724-693-2523.

For more information on The Montour Trail, call 412-831-2030 or go to www.montourtrail.org. For more information on the Allegheny Trail Alliance, call 888-ATA-BIKE (282-2453) or go to www.atatrail.org.

Family, friends and fun

Burgh's Pizza & Wing Pub's Second Annual 10K run "for family friends and fun" will be at 10 a.m. April 21. The 10K run will start in Cecil Park and proceed to The Montour Trail. The one-mile walk is scheduled to begin at 10:15 a.m.

The entry fees for the run are $20 for adults and $13 for children 11 and younger. The entry fee for the walk is $13 for adults. There is no charge for children 11 and under. The fees will be used for the maintenance and expansion of The Montour Trail.

The top three male and top three female finishers will receive $200, $100 and $50 respectively. Age group awards will be given to the top three male and top three female winners in the following categories: 14 and under, 15 to 19; 20 to 29; 30 to 34; 35 to 39; 40 to 44; 45 to 49; 50 to 59 and 60 and over.

Cecil Park is about 20 minutes from Pittsburgh via Interstate 79 to Bridgeville (Exit 54). Turn left on Route 50 and go 7 miles to the park.

The awards and door prizes will be presented in Cecil Park. Food, soft drinks and beer will be provided by Sysco Foods of Pittsburgh, Green Grocer, Pepsi Cola, Deblasio Beverage and AM Lutheran Distributors. The Sounds Good DJs will provide entertainment.

For further information, call 412-278-3653 or go to www.active.com. The e-mail address is: dailyenterprise@aol.com.

Easy riding

Golden Triangle Bike Rentals, tucked into a spot between the First Avenue Garage and Station and the PNC Building, Downtown, will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays this month.

From May 1 through Sept. 30, it will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Bikes and in-line skates can be rented for $6.50 an hour. The cost includes a helmet for bikers and skaters, a cable lock for bikers and knee and elbow pads for skaters.

For more information, call 412-600-0675 or go to www.bikepittsburgh.com.

Larry Walsh can be reached at 412-263-1488. His e-mail address is lwalsh@post-gazette.com