Pennsylvania’s trail infrastructure received a significant boost when state officials added the Kiski Junction Gap to Pennsylvania’s Top Ten Trail Gaps list. The designation, announced by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with backing from Governor Josh Shapiro, elevates a project that addresses both immediate safety concerns and broader regional connectivity goals across western Pennsylvania’s extensive trail systems.
The gap exists at the former Kiski Junction Railroad site in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County. Trail users currently encounter an active rail line at the southern end of the Kiski Bridge, creating a barrier with no legal, ADA-compliant crossing option for non-motorized traffic. This interruption affects the Butler to Brookville Route, blocking what would otherwise be 130 miles of continuous trail.
Closing this gap would earn the corridor placement on the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s list of 100-mile trails, a designation shared by only six routes nationwide. More critically, it would complete connections to multiple major trail systems, including the 270-mile Erie to Pittsburgh Trail, the 320-mile Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway, and the 1,500-mile Industrial Heartland Trail spanning five states.
Infrastructure Investment Creates Regional Impact
Armstrong Trails has demonstrated consistent capacity to deliver complex projects over seven years. The organization closed the Climax Tunnel gap in 2019 and completed the Brady Tunnel gap in 2024, both previously listed among Pennsylvania’s top ten trail priorities. Additional accomplishments include the Sarah Furnace to Upper Hillville Connection, acquisition of the Kiski Junction Railroad corridor, development of 14 miles of new trail along the Kiski Corridor and Leechburg Towpath, and rehabilitation of the Kiski Bridge for bicycle and pedestrian use.
These projects represent more than $20 million in infrastructure investment since 2018. Notably, both the Kiski Junction Railroad acquisition and the Kiski Bridge rehabilitation reached completion before receiving state priority designation, demonstrating Armstrong Trails’ ability to advance transformational infrastructure without waiting for official recognition.
The planned solution involves an ADA-compliant flyover bridge with a switchback that will carry users safely over the railroad tracks. Armstrong Trails, in partnership with Allegheny Township, Hillman Foundation, Colcom Foundation, and the Richard King Mellon Foundation, has advanced the project through its design, engineering, and permitting phase, working toward shovel-ready construction status.
Chris Ziegler, executive director of Armstrong Trails, emphasized the broader significance: “Inclusion on Pennsylvania’s Top Ten Trail Gaps list demonstrates the Commonwealth’s recognition of the project’s importance to public safety, regional connectivity, and community well-being.”
Community and Economic Dimensions
Local businesses along the trail corridor recognize the economic implications of improved connectivity. Virginia Lindsay and Karen Toy Heilman of 1833 Coffee & Tea Company in Freeport noted that trail traffic directly correlates with customer volume. “Every new connection brings more riders and walkers through our doors,” they said. “Closing the Kiski Junction Gap will increase trail traffic and that’s good for every small business here.”
Ashley Coudriet, an Airbnb operator along Armstrong Trails in Gilpin Township, observed increased demand following recent trail extensions. “We have already seen an increase in stays since the trail was extended in 2024,” Coudriet said. “It’s a big win for tourism and for all the small businesses, and hosts who’ve been investing in this region’s growth.”
Jim Yurek of The Bike Lab in Kittanning described the trail as essential to his family-owned business operations. “A fully connected corridor means more rentals, more repairs, and more people discovering cycling,” Yurek said. “Closing the gap will turn our region into a destination for long-distance riders and weekend visitors alike.”
State Senator Joe Pittman of the 41st District highlighted the relationship between infrastructure and economic activity. “Bridge and trail connections help to attract tourism and economic activity for small towns throughout the region,” Pittman said. “I’m pleased to continue supporting efforts to provide increased access to outdoor recreational opportunities, which serve as true investments in our communities.”
Conservation-Focused Development
John Barsotti, president of Colcom Foundation, which has provided funding support for the Kiski Bridge rehabilitation and other Armstrong Trails projects, connected the infrastructure work to broader environmental objectives. “We are proud to support the Kiski Junction Gap initiative, a transformative project that strengthens regional trail connectivity and promotes safe, accessible outdoor recreation for all,” Barsotti said. “At the same time, this effort reflects our commitment to conservation and sustainable recreation—safeguarding natural landscapes while encouraging low-impact travel and preserving western Pennsylvania’s scenic beauty for future generations.”
Established in 1996 by Cordelia S. May, Colcom Foundation directs regional grantmaking toward environmental conservation and community enhancement projects throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. The foundation’s support has enabled Armstrong Trails to complete multiple phases of the Kiski Bridge project while maintaining focus on habitat protection and sustainable recreation access.
Governor Shapiro and DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn have identified trail gap closure as central to Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation strategy. The approach recognizes that completed trail systems generate both quality-of-life improvements and measurable economic benefits. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation contributed $17 billion to Pennsylvania’s gross domestic product in 2022, with completed trail corridors serving as infrastructure that connects formerly industrial communities to tourism economies.
The Kiski Junction Gap project advances toward construction as design and permitting work continues. Once complete, the flyover will eliminate the dangerous crossing and establish the final link in a trail system that transforms railroad corridors into accessible recreation infrastructure while preserving the region’s industrial heritage and natural landscapes.