Some Huntsville residents took advantage of the weekend’s unseasonably warm weather to try out the latest addition to our town’s trail network: the Hunters Bay Trail extension.
The most intriguing part of the new 840-metre section of trail is its floating boardwalk that passes underneath Highway 11 to connect East Airport Road to Lakeshore Road, offering hikers a new perspective of Hunters Bay.
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- A new sign welcomes people to the start of the Hunters Bay Trail extension at the end of East Airport Road
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- A bridge passes over a small creek
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- There are benches spaced along the floating trail for people to enjoy the view
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- And what a view it is!
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- The floating section of the trail follows the shoreline
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- The floating trail passes under Highway 11. This view looks back toward Hunters Bay
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- The trail extension connects with Lakeshore Road on the west side of Highway 11
Hunters Bay Trail is part of The Great Trail (formerly the Trans Canada Trail), and the newest section had been identified as a gap in the nation-wide trail. Advocates have been working for more than a decade to gain permissions and funding for the project. Thanks to a legacy initiative following the 2015 Pan Am Games, there was suddenly a boost in funding available, and some political might brought the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) on board to allow the trail to pass through the Highway 11 corridor.
If you want to check it out for yourself this year, you have only a few weeks in which to do that, notes Steve Hernen, Director of Operations and Protective Services for the Town of Huntsville. The trail extension must be closed by November 30 as part of the agreement with the MTO to allow for Highway 11 snow plow operations.
An official grand opening will happen in the spring of 2018.
Related stories:
Early advocate happy to see Hunters Bay Trail extension nearing completion
Hunters Bay Trail extension to open in September
Hunters Bay Trail expansion will cost an estimated $757,000
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Our walking group thoroughly enjoyed the new extension today. Thank you Steve Alcock, Don McCormick, Town Council and all others who have persisted to make this lovely trail a reality. Tourists and locals are so fortunate to have this right in the midst of our town.
I believe the reasoning is not due to the maintenance of the trail, but the danger of snow being plowed over the edges of the overpass onto unsuspecting people below. I don’t know about you but shoveling the slush on my street is tough work, I can’t imagine being hit with it full on at 60+kph.
The trail extension is wonderful. It is very reasonable that the portion under the highway cannot be kept open during winter plowing. Many avid trail walkers walk all year and would love to see Hunters Bay Trail maintained all year round. It wouldn’t have to be a major undertaking but just run a sidewalk plow or even a snowmobile periodically and after significant snowfalls. We would appreciate your consideration.