Flight 93 National Memorial completes ‘Flight Path’ renovation in advance of 25th anniversary

The walkway traces final trajectory of United Flight 93.

By PATRICK VARINE
TribLive

A critical piece of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County has been restored to its original vision just in time for a milestone year.

The nonprofit Friends of Flight 93 announced the completion of a $500,000 renovation of the “Flight Path,” a walkway that traces the final trajectory of United Flight 93 before it crashed on Sept. 11, 2001, in Stoneycreek.

Forty passengers and crew members aboard the flight came together to thwart a terrorist attack on the aircraft, saving lives at its intended target, believed to be the U.S. Capitol Building.

The project arrives as the memorial prepares for a surge of visitors expected for the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks next year.

The walkway, which begins above the visitors center and leads south toward a large sandstone boulder marking the crash site, had fallen victim to the harsh Somerset County climate.

“We have some pretty horrible winters up here,” said Donna Gibson, executive director of the Friends of Flight 93. “The original material that was used is not ideal for this type of environment.”

The path was originally constructed using Bomanite, a decorative concrete. Without proper underlying drainage, Pennsylvania’s freeze-and-thaw cycles caused the material to crack and heave.

Gibson noted that while maintenance crews attempted to repair the damage in the last three years, the deterioration eventually required a full overhaul.

“When the architect designed the memorial, he wanted to take visitors on the experience of following the path of the plane,” Gibson said. “This project has been on our wish list for the past three years, because it’s been bad. Our maintenance crew tried to patch it, but that almost ended up making it worse.”

The renovation was made possible through a public-private funding model that saved taxpayers more than $1.5 million. While initial federal bids for the project reached nearly $2 million, the Friends group was able to secure a private bid for approximately $500,000.

The project was funded by a $325,000 grant from the Pittsburgh-based Hillman Foundation and $175,000 from the now-dissolved Flight 93 families’ organization.

“Having us do it, versus the government, saved about $1.5 million,” Gibson said.

By completing the work before the winter season, the memorial is now positioned to handle the hundreds of thousands of people expected to pay their respects during the 2026 anniversary events.

“We didn’t want to wait until spring,”

The freeze-and-thaw cycle of Pennsylvania’s winter over the years has damaged the “Flight Path” walkway at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stonycreek. In advance of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the walkway has been restored.

Gibson said. “We’re anticipating hundreds of thousands of visitors during the 25th anniversary year.”