Our latest Indian Creek Valley Trail project is finally done! On on Oct 17, 2023, we celebrated the completion of the Steyer Bridge (and the trail leading to it) with a fun, community celebration in Mill Run.
Festivities began at the Steyer Bridge Parking Lot (GPS Location: 39.970189, -79.450313), which was shortly filled with over 58 vehicles!
Once folks had a chance to get a snack from Stella’s Waffles With a Twist, a local food truck, everyone departed for a half-mile stroll to the newly refinished bridge. Mountain Watershed Association staff, along with the Indian Creek Valley Trail Committee, held a cheerful ribbon cutting to officially open the bridge to the public!
Project Background:
The Indian Creek Valley Trail is a 19-mile hiking and biking trail that follows Indian Creek to its confluence with the Youghiogheny River. There are several completed portions of the trail, but there are still gaps in the middle of the trail. Refurbishing this bridge is a key step toward closing those gaps.
The Steyer Bridge is a 140-foot long railroad bridge across Indian Creek. Improvement of the bridge, development of the adjacent trail, and construction of an upgraded culvert crossing a tributary to Indian Creek were completed with a budget of nearly $400,000 raised through private and public grants, fundraising events and donor contributions.
Project donations are recognized on 56 memorial plaques affixed to the bridge, and donors gave from $100 to $10,000.
The completed Steyer Bridge is constructed of white oak atop a former railroad bridge that lacked a continuous solid surface.
Located within property owned by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC), the path to the bridge is approximately six-tenths of a mile long and was used as a road for logging trucks. The refinished path now has improved access to additional sections of the creek, which is recovering to support trout and other aquatic life, thanks to MWA’s AMD treatment systems!
As of today, over 200 people have already walked on our newest section of the Indian Creek Valley Trail! We’re so glad people are enjoying this new community recreation area!
Thanks to our donors!
Making the bridge safe for pedestrians and cyclists, and improving the trail leading to the bridge, was a huge undertaking that required significant funds. Mountain Watershed Association would like to thank everyone who supported us in fundraising for this important project!
We’d especially like to thank:
- The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce
- GO Laurel Highlands
- Springfield Township Supervisors
- The Redevelopment Authority of Fayette County
- The Pittsburgh Foundation
- The Allegheny Foundation
- The Richard King Mellon Foundation
- The Colcom Foundation
Where is the bridge?
The parking area for this section of trail is about 100 feet north of the access road to Camp Christian, on Route 381.