Irwin at the center of proposed bike, walking trails

Irwin could be the hub of three recreational trails — from the borough’s downtown to the Norwin Public Library as well as trails to the villages of Larimer and Hahntown in North Huntingdon.

Dan Korhnak, a co-founder of the nonprofit Friends of Norwin Trails, told Irwin officials Wednesday the organization wanted the borough’s blessing for the plans to create the trails.

“We’re starting with the nearby ones and trying to get these built,” Korhnak said.

The organization is focusing its initial efforts on a trail connecting Irwin to the village of Larimer along Brush Creek. Work on the second spoke would be from Irwin to Hahntown, with the third being from Irwin to the library on Caruthers Lane. To begin making the dreams a reality, Korhnak said the organization wants to seek funding for a feasibility study.

To connect downtown Irwin with the library, Korhnak said they envision a trail crossing Route 30 at the 10th Street crosswalk, then proceeding along Conley Drive on land owned by Conley-Irwin Properties. That route would use the Fairwood Drive bridge, which is to be replaced next year.

Korhnak questioned whether the Fairwood Drive Bridge replacement project could be designed with a sidewalk or a bike lane, but Shari Martino, borough official, said the project has been designed and a construction contract has been awarded by the borough to Advanced Builders Inc. of Perryopolis for about $2.1 million.

When questioned by Councilman Frank Rossi on the feasibility of using the tunnel that carries the small stream from the Fairwood Drive Bridge underneath Route 30, Korhnak said it would not be large enough. Still, it could be the site for a dedicated trail tunnel, he said, adding that they hope to talk to PennDOT officials by the end of the year.

While PennDOT is in its design phase for the Route 30 construction from 10th Street in Irwin to Route 48 in North Versailles, Korhnak said maybe a pedestrian bridge or tunnel could be designed for that section of the highway. But, Martino said she was told that would be the last piece of the highway to be constructed and, as of now, there is no money available to work on that part of the project.

The organization has ambitious plans to lengthen the shorter starter trails — extending a trail from Larimer west to Trafford and taking the Hahntown trail along a former Youghiogheny Railroad route to Gratztown on the Youghiogheny River. That would be a few miles from Sutersville, which is across the Youghiogheny River from the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage that connects Pittsburgh with Cumberland, Md.