Covered bridge completion heralds end of Sheepskin Trail project
A break in the weather provided a window to install and complete a covered pedestrian bridge in South Union Township.
The completion of the bridge just about wrapped up the township’s portion of the Sheepskin Trail project. Only minor cosmetic tasks remain, according to South Union Township supervisor Bob Schiffbauer.
“We still need a few signs, and we have some areas where we need to put up privacy fences,” he said. “Those are the things that need finished; nothing big.”
During the last several months, Schiffbauer has spearheaded the efforts to complete their portion of the Sheepskin Trail. A little over two miles of the trail runs through South Union — from Bailey Park to Brownfield — while it continues into parts of neighboring townships, ultimately connecting it to the Great Allegheny Passage in Connellsville.
The bridge originally came to the township through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; the unneeded remains of a large metal, covered pedestrian bridge from the completed construction work at the New Stanton Interchange.
It was installed over Redstone Creek near the back corner of Hutchinson Park.
“It was ugly. I didn’t like the frame on it,” Schiffbauer said with a laugh. The idea for a wooden covered bridge hit him while he was driving by it one day.
They settled on a dark, natural oak stain with a red, metal roof, all of which was completed by early last week.
In just the short period of time they’ve had the trails paved and the bridge installed, Schiffbauer said there’s been an influx of foot traffic.
“The most satisfying thing is the number of people using the trail,” he said. “It’s not just runners or bikers. It’s families with strollers, people on rollerblades or scooters, people with dogs, etc.”
“It makes it all worthwhile,” he added.
Funding
Though the township covered the costs to transport the bridge from Westmoreland County to South Union Township, the bridge came free of charge, saving them more than $50,000.
Those savings, combined with luck and in-kind services, allowed supervisors to pursue a more aesthetic approach to the bridge, which Schiffbauer said cost around $20,000.
When the grant for $260,000 was originally received from the state, the township was suppose to match it. In light of the trail being along the recently purchased property by the recreation center, they were able to use the appraised value of the property towards the match — a move that Schiffbauer said was luck.
“Another approach we took that allowed us to do the extra things, including paving, was in-kind,” Schiffbauer said, referring to the services used by township man hours and equipment.
“Rather than use township dollars, we saved about $90,000 by using those services,” he said.
Schiffbauer said they used a portion of the savings to invest in paving their portion of the trail, which was completed about two weeks ago. Now, all 2.2 miles of the trail has a nearly 9-foot-wide hardtop.
A grand opening for the trail is scheduled for later this month, Schiffbauer said. There’s also plans to host fall and Halloween-themed activities and programs along the trail and covered bridge.