On behalf of Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary John C. Oliver and Department of General Services Secretary Kelly Powell Logan announced that a contract has been awarded to complete a vital link in the long-distance trail system connecting Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

The project involves the reconstruction of the Big Savage Tunnel, formerly a railroad tunnel, for bicycle and pedestrian use on Pennsylvania’s longest rail-trail. “This is a great day for trail users,” Secretary Oliver said. “The Big Savage Tunnel is a huge obstacle in the completion of what will be one of the nation’s longest and most spectacular trails. We are glad to have helped build that legacy.”

Located in southeastern Somerset County, just a mile north of the Maryland border, the original 3,300 foot-long concrete-lined passage was built in 1911. It was last used for railroad in 1975. Once complete, the Big Savage will be a critical link in the completion of the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile, non-motorized, nearly level trail system between Cumberland, Maryland, and Pittsburgh.

“The Great Allegheny Passage has proven not only to be a spectacular recreational resource, but also a tremendous economic asset for the towns and region surrounding it,” Secretary Oliver said.

Funding for the reconstruction of the Big Savage Tunnel comes through Pennsylvania’s Capital Development funds, DCNR and PENNDOT funds, and private funding from The Hillman Foundation.

“Finding the funds for this tunnel has been our biggest challenge,” said Linda McKenna Boxx, president of Allegheny Trail Alliance, the non-profit organization coordinating the construction of the Great Allegheny Passage.

“It was absolutely essential for the connection to Washington, D.C., to rehabilitate the tunnel since there are no good ways around it or easy ways over it. Big Savage is part of the highest chain of ridges that comprise the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania.”

AWK Consulting Engineers of Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania designed the tunnel reconstruction. Reconstruction work will be done by Advanced Construction Techniques of Maple, Ontario, and coordinated by DCNR’s Bureau of Facility Design and Construction. Work on the project begins this spring and is expected to take nearly one year.

The major problems the tunnel has experienced throughout its 90-year history stem from the combination of the geology of Big Savage Mountain, the groundwater entering the tunnel, and the freeze/thaw conditions that have caused extensive damage to its liner.

The plans for this $7 million project call for the installation of a new insulated tunnel liner that will allow proper drainage and eliminate the freeze/thaw conditions. Provisions for lighting the tunnel also are included.

To date, more than 127 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage have been completed, including 100 continuous miles between McKeesport and Meyersdale. The entire system from Cumberland to Pittsburgh is expected to be completed by the end of 2004.

Pennsylvania is the top state in the nation for the number of rail-trails with 118 open trails, according to the Pennsylvania Rail-to-Trails Conservancy. Since 1995, Pennsylvania has nearly tripled the number of miles of rail-trails—from 432 to more than 1,100.

For more information about the Great Allegheny Passage visit www.atatrail.org or call 1-888-ATA-BIKE.