Work to begin on Montour Trail span
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Ground will be broken Saturday for a $1.1 million bridge that will fill a key gap on the Montour Trail over Clifton Road in Bethel Park.
The J.R. Taylor Memorial Bridge will be named for the late superintendent of Century Steel Erectors. The company and Mr. Taylor's family have worked to raise money for the bridge since Mr. Taylor died in an accident in 2004 at age 43 while doing yard work.
The bridge will complete the 2.7-mile Bethel Park branch of the trail, which stretches from the Arrowhead Trail in Peters to Irishtown and Logan roads in Bethel Park.
Currently, trail users must walk down a hill, cross Clifton Road and pass through an elementary school parking lot to continue on the trail.
"For some people, that's just an uncrossable gap," said Ned Williams, president of the Montour Trail Council. "Clifton Road is a very busy road."
Planning for the bridge began a decade ago with the Bethel Friends of the Montour Trail group and gained impetus when the Taylor family got involved, Mr. Williams said.
"They really wanted to make this happen," he said.
The family raised several hundred thousand dollars for the project to go along with a $750,000 federal grant secured in 2006 with the help of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair.
Allegheny County is providing $250,000 secured by Councilman Vince Gastgeb, R-Bethel Park. Bethel Friends of the Montour Trail raised more than $50,000, Mr. Williams said.
"No project anywhere on the Montour Trail has been anxiously awaited by more users than this bridge. We appreciate the assistance from many government bodies that has moved this project forward, but especially the tireless efforts of the Taylor family members who have made bridging this gap their passion," Mr. Williams said.
First Published October 14, 2010 12:00 am
