Glenwood Bridge ramps at south end now open
All ramps at south end of Glenwood Bridge are now open, after years of construction. They’re marginally bikeable. Many tight turns. Claustrophobic fencing. Feels like an expensive habitrail. The long ramp toward the east connects to the trash-strewn, unmaintained dirt & gravel path along 8th Ave. The ramps are a slight improvement over the old stairs.
A story with lots of pictures:
I biked from Hazelwood to the GAP Trail using the ramps yesterday.
Map below shows Monongahela River at top, Route 837/8th Ave at bottom and right, Sandcastle at upper right. The red track shows my route: west sidewalk of Glenwood Bridge, zigzag ramps down to the level of 837, then followed the maze to explore the long ramp toward the east, turned around, zigzagged down to Baldwin Rd, then across the RR tracks to get on the GAP Trail toward Homestead.
Approaching ramps on west sidewalk of Glenwood Bridge.
Descending to the level of Route 837 in first set of switchbacks (can't get onto road here without hopping the jersey barrier). The tight U-turns are bikeable if you're a bit of a circus acrobat.
Why do one 90 degree turn when you can do three? The black cyclone fencing begins. Who is this fence protecting?
Approaching the second set of switchbacks.
Peeking thru the fence at the fun ahead.
Then I came to a junction where you can go east on a long ramp toward West Homestead. I explored that. The concrete ramps end and you're dumped onto a lousy "path" (not a sidewalk) along Route 837 / Eighth Ave. Not very bikeable. I turned around.
I then negotiated the next (third?) set of switchbacks and emerged onto Baldwin Rd. Who doesn't enjoy biking around a field of six-inch rocks? If you wanted to get to Glass Run Rd, you'd turn left here. I turned right.
A view of the switchbacks from Baldwin Rd.
I heard that these ramps cost $7 million. I would think you could do much better for that price.
For starters, I'd suggest that PennDOT find some design engineers who ride bicycles.