A paved bike path will soon connect the town of Campbellton to Sugarloaf Provincial Park.
For three years, a group of eight Campbellton residents have been working to make this project a reality.
The approximately five-kilometer trail begins at Campbellton municipal campground, located near the interprovincial bridge. JC Van Horne. It will traverse large parts of the city to join the Terry Fox Trail, located in Sugarloaf Provincial Park.
The trail is cemented, except for a portion along the wetlands. A short section along the Restigouche River has already been cemented by the city.
With the announcement on May 30 of a contribution of more than $ 400,000 from the Government of Canada, the project can now officially proceed.
” All the statistics show this, cycling has been an activity on the rise in recent years. And in a pandemic, this is more than the case. “
Useful for health
The non-profit organization believes that this initiative will help provide a better quality of life for the population.
The trail will have a multifunctional vocation, and will not be used exclusively by cyclists, according to Vélo Restigouche president.
We want to benefit cyclists of course, but also pedestrians, families walking with strollers, people who inline skate, people who have adapted vehicles.
Dominique Eddie believes the initiative will help improve the physical and mental health of citizens.
Towards a roundabout route
Vélo Restigouche sees even more and hopes this project will be just a first step towards creating a cycle path circuit for the wider Campbellton region.
The next step is to continue the trail west along the Restigouche River, passing through the Atholville community and ending at Tide Head Beach.
Dominique Eddie believes that a regional circuit of paved walkways will help attract and retain more tourists in the region.
” We are all envious when we look at the Véloroute de la Péninsule acadienne. For now, we are just at the beginning. But clearly we also want to have tracks here to discover our beautiful region. “
The cost of this first step is just over $ 700,000. The Government of Canada is contributing $ 415,000 while the province is injecting $ 158,000. The city of Campbellton is investing $ 60,000 and is committed to maintaining the path.
The last $ 60,000 will come from the community, which is already on the right track.
Source: Radio-Canada
