The next phase of the restoration of the Upper Canada Heritage Trail is underway, confirmed the town’s heritage trail committee during its meeting late last month.
This latest effort involves work on the trail starting at Line 3, which will begin in mid-June, and will ultimately span four kilometres of gravel trail, ending at Line 8.
This step marks the latest phase of a project that started in 2017. It has looked to beautify and restore the trail that once marked the old site of the Erie and Ontario railway line, which ran from 1854 to the mid-1950s and had since become an unmaintained trail.
Phase three of the project is estimated to cost $400,000. The public will be able to give their input on how they want the trail to be made.
Committee members also concluded that phase two is now complete, which involved restoring two kilometres of the trail, extending from East/West to Line 3 along Concession 1.
The committee members were happy with the progress being made so far and said they believe that this newest restoration effort will go smoothly.
“I would say we could cut the ribbon on phase two being done,” said Kevin Turcotte, a committee member and the town’s parks and recreation manager.
There were some potential concerns over the effects of the project, including archeological digs and trees obstructing the path. However, these concerns are not a problem, say committee members.
“I don’t have any concerns because phase two was so successful,” said Turcotte.
The first phase of trail construction, which is a trail line that goes from John Street to East/West Line, was completed last year at a cost of $118,000. The second phase was estimated to have cost $100,000.
The project, which has been funded by the municipality as well as donations and sponsors, was slow to get started but has picked up in the last year. If successfully completed, the new trail will be 10 kilometres long.
The heritage trail committee meets again on June 18 at 1 p.m.
Any members of the public who wish to give their input on phase three can do so at jointheconversationnotl.org/heritage-trail.
