Pittsburgh Urban Zipline From West End To North Shore Proposed

PITTSBURGH, PA - Perhaps this time, the idea can get off the ground by getting off of one of Pittsburgh’s tallest points. Perhaps this time, the idea of an urban zipline in the city will become a reality.

Representatives of the newly created Pittsburgh Zipline Co. were in the city’s Elliott neighborhood Thursday, outlining plans for a zip line that would travel from the West End Overlook to the proposed Esplanade development on the North Shore adjacent to the Rivers Casino.

The zip line would carry riders from a proposed tower that would be built at the overlook, over railroad tracks and West Carson Street, across the Ohio River and onto a Esplanade building rooftop. Two railroad companies would need to give their approval for the zip line to be built.

Pittsburgh Zipline Co. owner Jeremy Goldman told KDKA-AM radio that the
zip line would be approximately 2,500 feet long and one of the largest over water in North America. At its highest point, riders will be about 220 feet above ground; they’ll be about 70 feet above the water as they travel over the river.

A similar proposal surfaced in 2013, when an entity known as Zip Pitt wanted to build a zip line traveling 50 mph from Mt. Washington to the North Shore. That idea didn’t take off.

It conceivably has a better chance of succeeding this time if the project gets the backing of Esplanade developer Millcraft Industries. The mixed-use development already is slated to have several unique features, including a large man-made lagoon and a large ferris wheel that will be operational year-round.

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