Rails to Trails Growing Fast
By SHELLEY HANSON Staff WriterArticle Photos
WHEELING - Work on a multi-million dollar plan to expand Wheeling's Heritage Trail continues - with the latest facets to include a useable railroad handcar and a pedestrian bridge that will span Wheeling Creek.
"We're still proceeding with the plan for 13 additional bike trail miles in the city," said R. "Scat" Scatterday, manager/project engineer for the Wheeling-Ohio County Rails to Trails system. "The intention of all these facets of the project is to create a local trail system that is considered unequaled in the eastern United States - and Wheeling a destination community and West Virginia a travel treasure."
The current phases being planned, he noted, will connect the existing Ohio River trail at the Interstate 470 bridge with the west portal of Tunnel Green via the vacated trails parallel to 33rd Street.
It will then proceed north in front of the La Belle Nail Co. plant, cross 29th Street, continue north through the Chapline Hill Tunnel that runs beneath Ohio Valley Medical Center and W.Va. 2, to the Ogden Newspapers Printing and Technology Center. It will then continue along the south bank of Wheeling Creek, upstream to Tunnel Green.
"There will be an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp from the west portal of Tunnel Green down to the connecting trail," Scatterday noted.
He added that in front of La Belle, there are plans to install a railroad handcar to be used on 800 feet of double railroad track. A mechanical switch will be located at each end.
Also, Scatterday, along with city officials and project scientist Ben Stout, "are continuing to work on another connector from the east face of Tunnel Green downstream around the peninsula and downstream."
As part of the expansion, there are additional plans to renovate a double tunnel that runs under McColloch's Leap and Mount Wood Cemetery. This will allow for the connection of the north end of the north tunnel, originally known as the Mull Tunnel, to the river trail across from Mull Machine on W.Va. 2.
"You wouldn't see it if you didn't stop and look because it's overgrown," Scatterday said of the Mull Tunnel. "I have to get up there with a chain saw and whack off the trees and open that end up. It's a beautiful sight upriver."
Also on the drawing board is a two-span bridge, named the Wheeling Sky-Trail, that will use existing railroad piers in Wheeling Creek. The span's first pier is located at the intersection of the north end of the Market Street Bridge and 18th Street and will lead to another existing railroad pier, across and down the stream, in the vicinity of the Wheeling Cab Co.
"The second span is from that pier to the existing, elevated rail bed next to Main Street bank, passing over Main Street," Scatterday said.
He noted the trail expansion will require additional maintenance, grooming and security. With this in mind, a news conference is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Wheeling Police Chief Robert Matheny's office to announce a new trail security system called "Trail Ambassadors."
"We will essentially be recruiting a group of everyday trail users for the purpose of being ambassadors to the public concerning information about the trails in the city, locations of eateries, distances, limited city history and more," he said.
The executive trail ambassador, he noted, will be Ryan Teufel of Wheeling.
Teufel and his business partner and cousin, Natalie Hamilton, are planning to soon open a kayak and bike rental shop, named Mountain Mama's Kayak and Bike Rentals, on the first floor of the McLure Hotel on Market Street in downtown Wheeling.
Scatterday hopes the trail will spur similar entrepreneurship in the city.
"There are even plans to hopefully open a 'bikery.' A 'bikery' is a combination bike shop and eatery, where you can have soup, salad, sandwiches and your bike fixed," he said.
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GETACLUE
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07-20-10 9:27 AM
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wvjeeper ..... Maybe you just look GAY. You do know that homosexuals have GAYDAR, Maybe you just need to come out of the closet!!!!
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Wheeldog
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07-20-10 2:59 AM
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Many adults bemoan the fact that today's kids are often overweight and generally in poor physical condition. A way to combat this trend is to construct/designate biking routes and encourage kids to cycle. Indeed, get the whole family involved in cycling. Ultimately, it will improve both the physical and mental health of those who participate and more than pay back the costs involved. Isn't this a better investment of public funds than building mega malls and covering the landscape with concrete and blacktop highways?
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Wheeldog
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07-20-10 2:51 AM
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"Bikes have a place but they simply are not practical for most people and never will be," Shark. You are wrong, Shark. In many more forward looking cities bicycles are a growing and practical means of local travel, and efforts are made to accommodate and encourage their use. If you have been to Europe you could not help but notice the role of bikes in common transportation - and their streets and roads are often narrower than ours. Virtually all cities can be made "bike friendly" with a few relatively simple accommodations. Sadly, most Americans have become so fixated on cars that they cannot conceive of cycling as a viable means of transportation and even resent the thought of sharing the road with bikers. FWIW, I cycle an average of 20-25 miles 6 days a week over hilly terrain along 2 lane highways. As you may have guessed, I am no spring chicken. I do not ride for "exercise" as much as for the fun of it and for local travel.
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Shark88
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07-19-10 11:37 PM
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Wheeldog....please get real. Most people don't ride bikes cause they just ain't practical. Moreover, they can be dangerous to ride in traffic. Bikes have a place but they simply are not practical for most people and never will be. This entire project has links to all sorts of government special interests. Whether bike trails or environmentalism, they all have one thing in common. Yes, that is right. They are all feeding at the public trough partaking of tax payer dollars for their liberal agenda and projects. None of these projects could ever stand on their own because the majority of working people simply would not support them. So the liberals use the power of government to get money for their projects. Special interests and weak-kneeed politicians are destroying this economy and country. What good is a bike trail if you lose your entire country?
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Wheeldog
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07-19-10 6:43 PM
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Atoddh, I agree that the rails-to-trails project is not an economic development issue. It is essentially a public service program. However, I happen to believe that virtually all "economic development" programs are unlikely to be successful in the long run. We are in the midst of a global economic collapse that cannot be reversed with a patchwork of government bailouts and "economic development" programs. We have long since past the point of no return in adjusting our economy for the realities ahead. Nonetheless, we can begin the process of downsizing our transportation and supply complexes and developing a more localized economic base.
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JamesT
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07-19-10 12:40 PM
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I had hoped to see former raillines converted for trolly or some other mass transit like a mono rail. this would help the failing infrastructure and ease the traffic congestions. Unfortunately, the corrupt politicians who laugh at fooling us and the greedy union bosses are getting filthy rich from the shell game with smoke & mirrors. Interesting how the dems comtrol congress and the White House while blaming the powerless Republicans on the Dems failures.
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atoddh
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07-19-10 1:57 AM
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wheel:These kinds of expensive projects-including the Capitol,Artisan Center,Heritage Port etc.,are falsely presented as "economic development" and "job creating." They are not.They actually end up costing more public money to maintain. The projects are not bad.They are,however,not a solution to the root problem which is well paid skilled employment opportunity.
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Wheeldog
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07-18-10 11:44 PM
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"I like to ride bikes and stuff but I just don't believe taxes should be paying for this sort of thing. It ain't necessary," Shark. How about streets, roads, highways, playgrounds, public parks, etc.? Taxpayer money has been poured into the development of the Highlands, and that is undoubtedly a black hole. I agree that these are exceptionally tough economic times, and it is likely to get worse before getting better. This project, however, at least provides some actual benefit to the public. In the not too distant future we will need options to difficult to maintain public road/highway system. The rails-to-trails program could serve as a model for a less energy intensive transportation system.
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atoddh
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07-18-10 11:36 PM
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wonder :I have made several excellent proposals for area projects and been turned away. The negativity is amazing.Truly amazing. The most recent suggestion would have created dozens of skilled labor jobs.The CC,Klempa and others were NOT interested. New industry can not be forced on a community that does not want it. Most of the affluent in Wheeling are satisfied with the staus quo and intend to keep it that way.I think a huge error is being made not being receptive to new industry, but that is the way it is. There are reasons for the 60% decline in population;specifically the group in power-and hanger ons- during the decline.
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Shark88
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07-18-10 11:24 PM
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I like to ride bikes and stuff but I just don't believe taxes should be paying for this sort of thing. It ain't necessary.
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wvjeeper
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07-18-10 10:06 PM
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"everyday trail users for the purpose of being ambassadors" moving back to the 80's. the guardian angels lol.
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wvjeeper
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07-18-10 10:04 PM
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bikery lol. only wheeling. just what i want after exercise..a nice bowl of soup. im sorry..this is just a stupid idea. can eat while you get your bike fixed? seriously? this just keeps getting better...wait..will that be a skilled labor job? we could just get the a local 12 year old to do it.
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wvjeeper
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07-18-10 10:01 PM
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atoddh very true. there is a spot just past wesbanco arena across that wooden bridge over the river where ****** junkies live. there are 5 of them..3 guys and 2 girls. they live in a spot where they cleared the water weeds. wheeling at it's finest.
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wonderwhy
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07-18-10 9:28 PM
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atoddh- this is not an issue of lees business, it is making the best of a situation. You are always on here claiming the state cannot do without mollohan or burd, But i cannot recall one time you have ever offered a solution. Saying you want a mfg job is just great, now tell the people that could bring them here instead of constantly talking down the current wv admin and support capito..........agenda perhaps?
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atoddh
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07-18-10 9:20 PM
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wheel:Millions are spent on these sorts of cosmetic projects while efforts at new value added business - and employment - are ignored. The root of the decay is not being addressed. Everyone seems to be in denial.
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Wheeldog
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07-18-10 7:08 PM
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Scatterday and those like him deserve the gratitude and encouragement of local Wheeling/Ohio County residents. He is working to make life better for those who live in the area and contributing to a healthier lifestyle for everyone. Critics should go out and walk or cycle along the trails. Perhaps they will better understand how important it is to have such facilities. As time goes on there will be an increasing need for routes that accommodate non motorized travel.
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atoddh
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07-18-10 6:30 PM
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yes former without some meaningful job creation soon there will be no one left to walk on the elaborate trails.Note that the trails weave in and around the 200+ vacant structures, vacant lots and occupied run down structures in town. jeeper:you left out the winos , homeless and other "Downtown types" on the trails.
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wvjeeper
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07-18-10 3:30 PM
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boxerboy glass houses dude. your the biggest sinner of us all. you claim to be christian. lol.
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wvjeeper
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07-18-10 3:28 PM
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acousticportal why the name calling? does your mommy know your bloggin on the internet? maybe it was you down there. lol.
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wvjeeper
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07-18-10 3:26 PM
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GETACLUE your sounding a little jealous? your hangout im bad mouthing? bet you would like to bad mouth something lol.
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MikeEbigg
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07-18-10 2:20 PM
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Rover, if you share such a history with such a great man, why do you hide behind a pseudonym? But the man could have flown into North Vietnam and bombed Ho Chi Minh straight into Hades, but it wouldn't make him any less of an egomaniacal, pompous jerk who alienates more experienced runners from the 20k classic every year with his attitude of "you're lucky to be running in *my* race." Maybe my history isn't as illustrious as Scant's, but I'm doing far less than he is in destroying the reputation and credibility of this city.
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richardwhee
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07-18-10 12:53 PM
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The trails are good and have both good& bad purposes. However, during this recession and money shortage I think funds could be put to better use. Just because the gov is giving it away dosen't mean we have to waste it.
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rover1958
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07-18-10 12:06 PM
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MikEbigg denounced Bob Scatterday with smug commentary. Bob went to high school and college same time as me. I used to drive him down to WVU. After graduation we both were Air Force officers and served time in Vietnam where Bob was a fighter pilot. He and his Dad before him are lifelong residents of the Ohio Valley and Bob, a widower and a combat Vet, has devoted his life to selflessly and without pay serving his home town. So, MikEeee, consider your own legacy to your country, your state and your city before making baseless criticism of one of Wheeling's remaining good men.
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formerohvalleyresident
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07-18-10 11:52 AM
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wvjeeper, maybe it can be nicknamed "the Teabag Trail". Now we know where Acoustic will be hanging out! The "Tunnel of Love" ummh ummh!
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acousticportal
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07-18-10 10:37 AM
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I love the bike trails and use them as often as possible. I see many residents and visitiors using them...a bright spot in Wheeling. Jeep...you're an idiot and I doubt anyone's hitting on you.
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