Save the Confluence Bicycle Bridge

The bicycle bridge over the Youghiogheny River is a vital link between the small town of Confluence, PA and the 150 mile long Great Allegheny Passage bicycle trail (www.gaptrail.org). The 283 foot long bridge enables bicyclists and hikers to safely and conveniently enter the town of of Confluence, a major destination along the trail. Here cyclists can find restaurants, lodging, food stores and a bicycle shop. In the Fall of 2015, the bridge was closed to traffic because the wooden deck had developed rot in numerous places. In the Spring of 2016, a group of volunteers organized by the Confluence Tourism Association raised the funds and provided the labor to place a temporary wooden deck over the existing deck so that the bridge could be open for the season.
The Confluence Tourism Association (www.visitconfluence.info) is now embarking on a fund raising campaign to replace the wooden deck with a concrete deck that will last for decades.  We have a quote of $54,750 to complete the work. We have also received very generous 50% match funding from the Somerset Trust Company.  As a result, we need to raise $36,000 and hope to have the bridge deck repaired in the Fall of 2017.  Donors of $500 or more will have their name included on a plaque on the bridge memorializing their generosity. Donors of $300 will receive a matted 16" X 20" print of their choice of one of the trail photographs by nationally-known photographer Paul Wiegman.