Cabot Head (Image from Friends Of Cabot Head presentation)
Northern Bruce Peninsula is planning on re-establishing access to Cabot Head Road.
Council approved being in favour of reopening the road, but with restrictions during a meeting on Monday.
This comes after severe storm damage and high-water caused extensive washouts and the closure of the road in 2019/20. The municipality later granted temporary access to the road which led to the Cabot Head Lighthouse and Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory.
Since the damage, Northern Bruce Peninsula has not reopened the road.
Council was presented four options with determining the future of the road.
One recommended proceeding with the full reconstruction and reopening of the road for vehicular access, costing anywhere between $400,000 and $1 million.
Other options ranged from reopening the road on a managed basis and granting permit-based access, closing the road and convert it into a non-motorized multi-use trail, and maintain the status quo.
Council approved combining two of the options by partially stabilizing the washout areas, allow permit based access, install gates and signage, and convert the road into a multi-use trail while eliminating vehicle access to the lighthouse and observatory.
The municipality will be engaging with the community as well as various partners and agencies before any final decisions are made.