Representatives from the Pennsylvania Turnpike and other agencies earlier this year opened the newest section of the Montour Trail system (part of the Mon/Fayette Expressway Project) in the Pittsburgh area at a ceremony in South Park Township, Allegheny County.

The new, 1-mile-long trail parallels a new 4,700-foot extension of Piney Fork Road that crosses from South Park Township into Jefferson Hills Borough.

Both the Piney Fork Road extension and multi-use trail — which is 10 feet wide with an asphalt surface — were built by the Turnpike at a cost of about $1.2 million. Adjacent to the roadway and trail are 4.5 acres of replacement wetlands also built as part of the Mon/Fayette Expressway at a cost of $378,000.

Frank Kempf, the Turnpike’s assistant chief engineer for development projects/programs, said building the trail was a good way for the Turnpike to reach out to the community as a respectful neighbor.

"Building the trail made a lot of sense," said Kempf. "The Turnpike is delighted to be involved as partners with the Allegheny Trail Alliance, Montour Trail Council, South Park Township and Jefferson Hills Borough."

Mike Houser, a Turnpike construction engineer, said he is continuing a dialog with trail council representatives that could lead to more trail enhancements near the Mon/Fayette Expressway’s interchange with Pa. Route 51 in Jefferson Hills.

The Montour Trail Council, one of the ATA’s member organizations, has completed 29 miles of what is planned as a 51-mile trail from Coraopolis to Clairton.