By now, perhaps you have read or heard about the complications for the Towpath Trail routing between its current terminus and Steelyard Commons.  The major impediment involves the remediation of the tainted soil at the former Harshaw Chemical properties.  We have written on this topic many times before, but thought that I'd provide some current context into the situation.
 
To begin, as we planned and plotted the route for the extension of the Towpath Trail heading north, we knew that there would be problems associated with the Harshaw property and went to lengths to avoid the property at all costs.  Our preferred alignment that was presented to the public was able to avoid the property. 
 
The problem with this solution was that conditions at ArcelorMittal changed dramatically in the course of the one year period of study and analysis.  A significant change occurred when CSX abandoned its rail spur that crossed the Cuyahoga to interface with the steel mill, just to the southern fence line of Harshaw.  Because of this abandonment, a rail line that was considered duplicative in its service and located along the preferred alignment was now indispensible to the mill.  
 
So, while a year before ArcelorMittal was considering an abandonment of that line, now it needed to remain "active."  And, as an active rail line, it meant that crossing it would necessitate an elevated structure.  Such a structure brings a host of complications, including ramping distances to meet ADA regulations and, in this case, finding placements for the peers that would not compromise an underground gas line from Air Products that feeds the mill operations.  Difficult and costly solutions.