NEO Trail Club

12/17/2009 11:35:00 AM NOTICE - Effective immediately, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Bridge that crosses the PA Turnpike is closed due to structural deficiencies resulting in unsafe conditions. This closure applies to foot traffic as well as snowmobile traffic. This closure could impact your trip planning. Please contact the park directly for further information and assistance. 724-455-3744



From newspaper article:

The department is awaiting the full inspection report before deciding on a course of action, but "it's probably going to have to be removed and replaced," Mr. Mumau said. The bridge was erected in the 1970s.

A new bridge would be wider and would have to be designed to accommodate future widening of the turnpike, he said. The area also is prone to high winds and plumes of salt kicked up from the highway for four to five months each year.



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09360/10 ... z0anbO67T1


This sucks! This was my spring race! I'm pretty sure the PTB won't be able to replace the bridge by June.
I guess I will look at Old Dominion again...

Slim and I are running with the Laurel RD next Saturday for the Pittsburgh FA.

The bridge is a topic sure to come up, I will see if we can get some back channel on this one.

The Laurel 50K is a great option too.

To my knowledge there is not a plan to cancel either run, just work around the situation.

Leading plan is for the 50K to stay as is and the 70 to become an out and back from Ohio Pyle.

Either run is an awesome choice.

Awesome. The course got got harder IMO.

I agree and now we have to see the runners coming back at us and say Holy Shit I am that far in front or behind somebody!

If I am not running out West, I plan to be at Laurel prob 50K for me (In between two 100's).

Nope, we're wrong. From the race site:

As of January 14, 2010 the Laurel Highlands Ultra will continue as a point-to-point race. We are in contact with Michael Mumau (the park manager) and have planned a suitable detour. Presently, we are planning on running a detour which will add approximately six (6) miles to the course, resulting in a race of 76.5 miles. The detour will divert runners from the trail onto a gravel road, then on to a short stretch of paved road which will then cross the Turnpike. After crossing the Turnpike the course will turn onto another gravel road before re-joining with the LHHT just North of the Turnpike. We believe this minor course change will provide the safest route. An out-and-back course was considered, but was dismissed because of the dangerous drop offs that would be encountered on the trail back to Ohiopyle. The combination of the drop-offs, rocks, darkness, possible rain and fog presented too many hazards to tired runners.

We have presented this detour to the park manager so that the appropriate authorities can be contacted. We also suggested this as a suitable detour for the LHHT while the bridge is out. Additionally, the local snowmobile clubs have been very active in contacting our state representatives to move the bridge replacement process forward, as they use the bridge along with other off-road vehicles throughout the year. We will continue to push our elected officials to make this project a priority.

Because of the extra mileage, the time limit for the full distance race will be twenty-four (24) hours, an increase of two (2) hours. I will be updating the appropriate pages shortly.

Please contact me directly if you have already entered the race, and have concerns about the course chan

Interesting.

I am sure race management thought long and hard about this choice.

Indeed. Them there's some slim pickings.

Visit this link to view the alternative route that will be taken at this year's Laurel Highlands Ultra:
http://www.neotrail.org/LHHTdetour.pdf