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Collaboration will see trail bridge

Walkers of the community will have a connected network of trails along the perimeter trail as the Town of Smithers and the Rotary Club of Smithers are collaborating on a project that will install a bridge to close a gap along the trail in the Willowvale subdivision area.

Walkers of the community will have a connected network of trails along the perimeter trail as the Town of Smithers and the Rotary Club of Smithers are collaborating on a project that will install a bridge to close a gap along the trail in the Willowvale subdivision area.

Council received the proposal and request for help from the Rotary at their last meeting, and it’s a request that Mayor Cress Farrow was glad to see. An avid walker himself, now outdoor enthusiasts will have an expanded trail network within town.

“You know what’s so unique about Smithers is you can walk on the community trails … and you are almost guaranteed to see a moose,” Mayor Cress Farrow said, who himself uses the trail network regularly. “Closing this little connection … it just means you can do a complete circle and walk around the wetlands.”

The Rotary plans to build the bridge in June, Gary Quanstrom wrote to council. The estimated cost for the project, which were produced with the help of town staff, is $34,328. The Rotary’s proposal, which council accepted, states that the Rotary contribution would be $11,800, $15,200 have been provided in donations, and they asked council to supply $7,300 of in-kind services and materials.

This includes the installation of traffic barriers, on-site supervision, and administration, the report states.

Of the town’s contribution, $2,000 will be the only monetary value attached to the project. The rest of the in-kind donation has to do with staff time, so while there is a cost involved, it’s not necessarily money-out, Farrow explained.

The Rotary will be acting as the general contractor, Farrow added, taking over responsibility for the project.