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Greensboro trail work to begin
niedbala@observer-reporter.com
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held next month for the construction of a pedestrian and bicycle trail through Greensboro Borough.
The ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 13 in the borough lot at the corner of Clear and Front streets, Mary Shine, borough council president, said.
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Council has been pursuing the construction of the trail for two years.
The trail will have an asphalt surface and follow the Monongahela River, except along one segment where it will follow Water Street. The path will be marked and painted.
The project also is to include construction of a gazebo, fencing and highlighted intersections where the trail will cross borough streets.
Shine said council will meet Thursday with representatives of the state Department of Transportation and the contractor to discuss the project.
A public meeting also will be scheduled for this month to give residents the opportunity to view the plans and talk to the contractor, she said.
The state Department of Transportation opened bids for the construction of the trail in November. The low bid of $1,125,295 was submitted by Rohadd Inc. of Greensburg.
The borough now has $793,500 in grant money for the project. It is seeking additional grants to cover the remaining costs, Shine said.
The borough was awarded the first grant for the project, $427,500, more than 12 years ago. The project failed to move forward then partly because of issues regarding rights-of-way acquisition.
Two years ago, borough engineer Mike Dufalla, of Mackin Engineering, investigated the matter and learned the initial grant money was still available. The borough subsequently received an additional $366,000 grant for the project from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Representatives of PennDOT, Mackin and DCNR, as well as state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, state Sen. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, and U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Johnstown, will be invited to the groundbreaking, Shine said.
The trail should be a nice addition to the community, she added.
"It's going to be a great improvement for our borough," Shine said.
Council hopes the trail eventually will connect to Warrior Trail near Mon View Park, to the north, and to the south extend toward Point Marion, where it would connect to the Sheepskin Trail.
The trail also eventually could connect to the county's Greene River Trail, which now stretches from Greene Cove Yacht Club to Rices Landing.
