The floating trail sections are ready, safety fencing is being installed and soon trail enthusiasts will be able to use the long-awaited extension to Hunters Bay Trail, which will become a link within the national Trans Canada Trail (now being promoted as The Great Trail).
Volunteers on the local trail committee first identified the project back in 2003, said Colleen MacDonald, the Town’s Manager of Parks and Cemeteries, but their progress was stopped when the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) wouldn’t approve use of the Highway 11 corridor. Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act prohibits pedestrian traffic on and beside many major highways, including Highway 11.
MacDonald said that this time around it took some political might to get an exception to those regulations approved. “(Mayor Aitchison) has been a big supporter of this project,” said MacDonald. “Just putting the pressure on politically to make this exception happen, he’s been great. Without him reaching out at a higher level, it wouldn’t have happened.”
There were many safety requirements that had to be satisfied before the MTO would approve the project, including security fencing and signage, said MacDonald. “This is a pretty groundbreaking scenario for us to have access to build a pedestrian trail within the highway corridor.”
The end of the existing Hunters Bay Trail will divert around private property to a road allowance on East Airport Road just past Orchard Park before connecting with a pedestrian bridge that will lead to a shoreline trail at the base of the embankment along the Highway 11 northbound lanes. The shoreline trail will connect to a series of floating sections that follow the shore and pass under the Vernon Narrows bridge to the north of the bridge’s first stanchion, before turning south to connect with Lakeshore Road.
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- Drawing of the Hunters Bay Trail extension (Tulloch Engineering)
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- The floating sections and ramps for the Hunters Bay Trail extension
Fencing, signage and railings on both sides of the floating sections will encourage users to remain on the trail. “We want to ensure it’s safe for everyone to use,” said MacDonald.
The floating sections will remain in the water year-round and can withstand seasonal freeze-thaw cycles.
Fowler Construction is the contractor for the project; the floating sections were provided by Pride Marine. Funding for the project has been provided by multiple sources, including the PanAm Games legacy fund, the Trans Canada Trail, the District of Muskoka, and the Town of Huntsville. It is anticipated to be ready for use in September.
“From a tourism and recreation point of view, people are drawn to the water’s edge,” said MacDonald. “It’s going to be well used.”
Related story: Hunters Bay Trail expansion will cost an estimated $757,000
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I think this is fantastic. And it will be well used all year around!!
One of the biggest reasons we moved to Huntsville 10 years ago was specifically because of it’s promotion and support of recreational opportunities. We bought our home near Avery Beach because of it’s close proximity and access to the trail, and use it constantly throughout the year with our two young kids, and see many others every time we’re out.
Ms. Macdonald anticipates that this will be “well used”. I can only assume that this is the extent of the town’s cost benefit analysis. Something is sadly wrong in a municipality of 18000, that anyone thinks that $.75 million is well spend on a walkway for the occasional recreational user. Really, the town has so many needs that go unmet.