Bridge to complete Butler Freeport trail
After more than 20 years, the final piece of the Butler Freeport Community Trail is nearing completion.
Work on a bridge crossing Coal Run and connecting Father Marinaro Park in Butler to the trail is expected to be finished in a week to 10 days, said Chris Ziegler, president of the Butler Freeport Trail Council.
“I keep going down to make sure it’s still there because it doesn’t seem real,” Ziegler said.
The first portion of the trail opened in 1992. Construction of the bridge was held up for years due to state Department of Environmental Protection restrictions.
In November, Buffalo Township, which owns the trail, received its final DEP permit allowing construction of the bridge.
Work on the bridge began April 1. Holbein Inc. of Sarver is doing that work.
The bridge is 135 feet long and 12 feet wide. It is concrete and supported by six piers and 10 steel beams.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the trail and bridge will be held in mid June at a date to be announced, Ziegler said.
