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Montour Trail Airport Connector

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Montour Trail Airport Connector

After over 10 years of discussion and planning, the Montour Trail Council has been able to establish a bicycle route into (and, of course, out of) Pittsburgh International Airport.  The Grand Opening will be in Spring 2012, but we have permission to use it now -- that is, we now have a "soft" opening.  That means that you can plan your 2012 tours to bike directly to or from Pittsburgh Airport.

The new Montour Trail Airport Connector connects the Enlow Ball Park (aka Five Points) trailhead of the Montour Trail to the Airport, a distance of a bit over 6 miles.  Along the way (about 1.5 miles from the airport) the Connector travels a short distance on Clinton Rd, so people who just want to start a road tour don't need to go all the way over to the Montour Trail.  Please note that the Connector runs through the airport security area, except for the short stretch on public Clinton Rd.  It is ***VERY*** important to stay on the road and refrain from loitering in the airport security area.

The announcement of the soft opening is below.  It describes the route from Enlow/Five Points into the airport.  A map is available at https://linkup.shaw-weil.comimages/airport-cxn.jpg -- this map shows Enlow and Clinton as well as the airport. 

When you get to the end of the Connector trail in the extended-term parking lot, you'll be at the end of a corridor with moving sidewalks.  Walk your bike through this corridor to get to the terminal.  You'll be on the security level.  Checkin is up one level from here, baggage claim is one level down.  To get from baggage claim to the trail, follow signs to extended-term parking and go to the end of the corridor.

Here is the announcement from the Montour Trail Council:

From: TIM KILLMEYER timkillmeyer [at] verizon [dot] net
Date: Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 6:01 PM
Subject: [Montour-Trail] Airport Connector update


Hello everyone,

MTC volunteers have spent the past few weeks putting the finishing touches on the "upper" section of the Montour Trail Airport Connector. After a walk-through with the airport officials, it has been deemed "O.K." to to allow a soft opening as a trial leading to a major grand opening in early Spring 2012. No major announcements or press releases will be issued until then so this might be the only notice you will see for a few months. There are a few minor tweaks we intend to make soon but for the time being YOU CAN NOW RIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT USING THE CONNECTOR.
 
Now, for the tips and caveats.
 
Feel free to report [[to the Montour Yahoo group, or directly to the Montour Trail Council]] about your experience - good AND bad. That is the purpose of the "soft opening," to iron out any kinks in the route.
 
In regard to the "lower" section (old McCaslin Rd.), heading toward the airport, when you get to the fork in the road there are gates across both forks. You will be taking the left fork and it will be well marked. There is a path around the gate and you are welcome to continue even if the gate is closed.
 
From that point on, even if the gate is open... YOU CANNOT DRIVE A VEHICLE ON THE ROAD - bicycles and pedestrians only! That road is for airport employees only. And even then it is only for employees with business at the fire training center located about halfway down that road. Homeland Security is watching.
 
The posts for the trail rules signs are in place at each end of that road but the signs are still being printed. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL USUAL TRAIL RULES, such as:

TRAIL OPEN DAWN UNTIL DUSK
WARN BEFORE PASSING (Sometimes it is hard to hear people coming from behind when the highway is on the hill above.)
STAY TO THE RIGHT (This is important as there "might" be legitimate motor vehicle using the road to access the fire training facility as well as the usual county cop or homeland security car keeping an eye on things. it IS airport property!
PETS MUST BE LEASHED
STAY ON BIKE ROUTE - Unless you have a thing for cavity searches, you might want to pay special attention to this one. Most of the side roads have signs that say No Montour Trail Traffic and you will want to mind those as well.
Please remember that we are guests using airport property. All it might take is one or two goofballs to lose the connector.
 
When you get to Clinton Road, remember that it is a fairly well used route to get from Route 30 to I376. We are trying to get a work-around for it, but right now it is the best we have.
 
IMPORTANT - when you get to the gate across Clinton Rd. after crossing over above the highway, the road gate might be open or closed. If it is open, proceed on through.
IF IT IS CLOSED, THERE IS A MAN GATE ON ITS RIGHT (next to the Montour Trail/Bike Route signs). THE MAN GATE "MIGHT" BE CLOSED, BUT IT WILL NOT BE LOCKED EXCEPT DURING PERIODS OF HIGH SECURITY. PLEASE OPEN THE GATE (it swings toward the highway) AND CONTINUE TO THE AIRPORT.
YOU CAN EVEN LEAVE IT OPEN.
 
Finaly, turn right where the sign says to turn right and do not continue past the runway. A sign to that effect will be placed there soon.
 
Let us know how it goes!
 
Thanks,
 
Tim
  Click the map to get a larger image.
Montour airport connector map Bike parking in extended parking at the end of the airport hallway Bike parking in extended term parking at the end of the airport hallway. Entering Airport property Entering Airport Property at Clinton Road. The first gate leaving Enlow Road Entering Airport Property at gate MMM on McCaslin Rd near Clinton.How does this go? Placing the pieces of the roadway signs in the extended term parking lot. Bolting the sign to the post Bolting a sign to the post.
     

 

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