Site last updated: Friday, March 29, 2024

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

New bridge fills gap in Butler-Freeport Trail

Volunteers Teresa Stevick, Karl Knechtel and trail association president Chris Ziegler with granddaughter Zoey take the first walk on the new bridge over Coal Run that fills the last link of the Butler-Freeport Community Trail.
$250K span concludes decades of struggle

The Butler-Freeport Community Trail Council, local leaders, and residents didn’t let thunderstorms Tuesday evening ruin a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the trail’s new bridge over Coal Run in the city.

“It’s been such a rocky road the last 10 years, I figure why cancel it,” said Chris Ziegler, president of the council.

Several dozen supporters showed up in raincoats and with umbrellas at the Kaufman Drive trailhead behind Father Marinaro Park to be part of the ribbon cutting for the newly completed Fellowship Crossing bridge. They were also treated to 30 gallons of Rocky Road ice cream.

Ziegler said the bridge would not have been possible without the support of many people over the years.

“The whole group never got discouraged,” she said.

The 135-foot bridge connects the city to the Butler-Freeport Community Trail, a 21-mile path along the former Butler branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

“This is a huge asset for the community,” Ziegler said. “The usage on the trail will grow exponentially because of it.”

The first portion of the trail opened in 1992, but construction of the bridge was held up for years due in part to state Department of Environmental Protection restrictions.

A few years ago, the DEP ordered then-T. W. Phillips Gas and Oil Co. to move a gas line underground that had gone over Coal Run. The order came after arsenic was discovered on soil on the trail.

The arsenic was remediated last fall.

In November, Buffalo Township, which owns the trail, received its final DEP permit allowing construction of the bridge.

Buffalo Township Supervisor Al Roenigk said the bridge is a great place to begin the trail.

“You have to have a trail head, and it’s such a logical place to do it,” he said. “It’s very important this was done.”

Funds for the bridge design and pier material were acquired by Buffalo Township through a $91,000 state grant. Partial funding for the decking came from a $10,000 Rails to Trails Conservancy grant while about $150,000 was raised by the trail council.

“Everyone worked so hard on this,” Roenigk said. “We had a hurricane wash part of the trail away, issues with arsenic, whatever — no one ever gave up.”

Steighner Crane Service, Holbein, Inc. and the Butler County Bridge Division donated services for the bridge. The trail council also received hundreds of volunteer hours.

Work on the 135-foot long bridge, which is 12 feet wide, began in April. It is concrete and supported by six piers and 10 steel beams.

The trail is used by walkers, runners and bicyclists, and allows people to visit designated birding areas. It connects five other trails stemming from Freeport.

Mayor Tom Donaldson said he was excited to see the project finally completed.

“I can’t tell you how many people have asked me when the bridge would be completed,” he said.

City Councilwoman Kathy Kline said she remembers the trail council working to build the bridge back in 2006 when she first took office.

“I’m really happy for them,” she said. “This is a group that dealt with so many things but never gave up.”

City Councilman Bill May said he frequently uses the trail and is excited the bridge will allow for better access for city residents.

He said having to ride on Ziegler Avenue to get to the trail discouraged many people.

“While it’s not a hard ride, I know a lot of people wouldn’t do it because of the high speed traffic,” May said.

Tony Frochio of Connoquenessing Township said he bikes on the trail every day to help him through illness.

“It’s been a real lifesaver for me,” he said. “I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and being on the trail has been a real healing for me.”

Frochio said he could barely stand up straight before he started using the trail.

“Someone got me a bike and it has been a lot of fun,” he said.

Don Snow of Butler said was in attendance with his “fatbike,” which features extra thick tires.

“I’m absolutely excited about (the bridge),” Snow said. “I try to ride the trail as much as I can. But before I had to cut behind the (nearby) scrap yard.”

Rhonda Hough of Butler said the thunderstorms didn’t prevent her from coming to enjoy the new bridge.

It wasn’t nearly as bad as the weather when Hurricane Ivan destroyed parts of the trail more than a decade ago.

“I remember the Buffalo Creek looked like a huge lake,” Hough said. “We got five inches of rain and the trail was destroyed.”

More in Local News

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS