Trail Closure: National Tunnel
During a recent inspection of the National Tunnel, Montour Trail engineers found areas of deterioration of the concrete ceiling, enough to affect the tunnel’s stability. Therefore, Montour Trail Council has decided that, in the interest of safety, the National Tunnel will temporarily close on Tuesday morning 11 November, for initial stabilization work to its deteriorating ceiling near the western entrance. The Tunnel, located in Cecil township at MM 25, was constructed by the Montour Railroad in the early twentieth century.
The Trail Council envisions reopening the tunnel early in 2026 after the initial stabilization phase is completed. Further, more extensive renovations will occur at a date still to be determined. The MTC does not recommend any on-road detour at this time due to narrow lanes and limited sight lines. Trail users wishing to travel west can access the trail at the McConnell Road trailhead (MP 24.7); users wishing to head east can access the trail at Kurnick trailhead (MP 25.6). Please watch this space for further announcements about the National Tunnel, and plans for its rehabilitation and reopening.
Airport Connector Bridge Partially Re-opened
The Airport Connector at MM A-0.9 re-opened on 11/12/2025 on a reduced 4-feet width basis. Bike riders must dismount at either end of the construction site’s narrow path until the entire bridge opens.The Montour Trail is a multi-use, non-motorized recreational pathway around Pittsburgh, the country’s longest suburban rail-trail. It is privately owned and operated. The main line extends ~47 miles; branch routes increase length to 60+ miles. The relatively flat half-loop stretches from Coraopolis (along the Ohio River) to Clairton (on the Monongahela River). A northwest branch connects directly to Pittsburgh International Airport.
The Montour connects to other rails-to-trails in western Pennsylvania and beyond: the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and the C&O Canal Towpath, a completed trail system that stretches 300+ miles from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC.; the Panhandle Trail — a converted railroad line that stretches from Weirton, West Virginia, to Carnegie. And this local resource is part of U.S. Bicycle Route 50, which runs east-west and, when completed, will span the country.
Currently, 46 miles of the Montour Trail are continuous with several short gaps in the southeast section.
The Trail is easy to get to by car, as there are access areas and trailheads every few miles along the route. Pittsburgh’s rapid transit system runs near some of these, and it is bike friendly. The Trail is ADA accessible as well.