The Saugeen Railtrail Association has held it’s annual meeting and highlighted what it hopes to accomplish this year and some of the work done last year.
A new brochure to promote the both the Railtrail and the municipal trail system is being developed.
Signage improvements were made along the trail last year, including new stop signs and distance signs.
A memorial garden also has been established.
Once that is complete, cyclists and hikers will have a 35 kilometre loop in conjunction with the municipal trails.
Association President Bruce Alexander is excited about the work being done this spring to rehabilitate the old railway bridge over Mill Creek.
He says the county is doing the tendering right now for the structural improvements that are needed and then the tenders will be awarded for the new bridge deck.
He says they want to also concentrate on developing the former railway spur line south of Port Elgin to MacGregor Point Provincial Park.
Alexander says funding from private partners would be welcome to help get the over 70-thousand dollar project completed.
He says the Society of Energy Professionals donated five thousand dollars for the Mill Creek Bridge, and one thousand dollars was donated by the Rotary Club.
Alexander says the association and Bruce County are matching those amounts.
The Railtrail is closely linked with the 20 kilometres municipal trail system.
Saugeen Shores Community Services Director Mike Myatt says once the parks and trails master plan is fully implemented over the next few years, town residents will have a looped trail system they should be very proud of.
In 2009, the town hopes to complete the Copway Trail, the Deer Run Extension, and the Parallel Trail next to the ATV Trail south of Port Elgin.
The Saugeen Railtrail Association has over 100 members.