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Blind River to upgrade bike trail, MTO to foot the bill

Trail is currently unusable by cyclists and difficult to walk
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Blind River will be looking for a contractor to redo a portion of the walking and bike trail east of the town limits.

CAO-clerk Kathryn Scott presented council with a report on needed upgrades to the trail at its meeting Monday evening. The trail constructed as part of a grant and partnership with the Ontario Ministry or Transportation (MTO) is managed by the MTO because it falls outside the town limits. Blind River manages the portion of the trail within its boundaries.

Trail conditions on the portion managed by the MTO are in need of repair because it is not usable by bikers and difficult to walk, Scott said in her report.

She said she contacted a member of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail Trust about the trail conditions because the biking group is planning a large bicycle group, estimated at about 150, to use the trail in the end of July. The upgrades would have to be done by July 22 for the bicycle ride to take place.

Discussions with the MTO found that it could not meet the deadline and it was decided the town find a contractor capable of doing the work by July 22. Scott said she found some local contractors are capable of doing the work. Blind River’s public service department was unable to commit to the work because of other projects in the works.

The MTO will pay the bill which will largely involve laying down a better grade of gravel.  

Council endorsed a recommendation allowing the CAO to work with MTO in finding an outside contractor to do the work.



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About the Author: Kris Svela

Kris Svela has worked in community newspapers for the past 36 years covering politics, human interest, courts, municipal councils, and the wide range of other topics of community interest
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