PEMBROKE — Significant upgrades have begun across the county along the Algonquin Trail, known locally as the former CP Rail corridor.
The Renfrew County ATV Club has been brushing and grading the Cobden portion, while the Township of Admaston-Bromley will be performing upgrades to the Town of Renfrew section.
In Arnprior, Cavanagh Construction is resurfacing the trail in exchange for using a section of trail as a staging area over the past two years. G.P. Splinter Forest Products will be brushing, grading, and applying stonedust on Pembroke portions of the Trail in preparation for Zombie Thrill Run being held on October 28 . H and H Construction of Petawawa will be performing the work in that community, between Portage Road and Murphy Road.
Other sections of the trail may see localized improvements as the winter snowmobiling season kicks into gear later this year.
Jason Davis, Manager of Forestry & GIS for the County of Renfrew, said, “We were directed by the Algonquin Trail Advisory Committee to focus on trail upgrades in urban areas first. It has been determined that these areas will likely see the highest levels of use. The plan is then to continue the upgrades outward from these areas to close any gaps over the coming years.”
While these upgrades are underway the County of Renfrew is reminding residents that the trail is currently not open to the public, noted Jim Hutton, County of Renfrew Chief Administrative Officer.
“We ask for the public’s patience as the resurfacing projects begin,” he said. “We are also in the process of the creation of an Algonquin Trail Management Plan. At this time the trail remains closed to the public to ensure the safety of our residents.”
Renfrew County, Lanark County and the Township of Papineau-Cameron formed a partnership in 2011 and recently signed a lease and donation agreements to acquire ownership of the 296-kilometre abandoned Canadian Pacific Rail between Smiths Falls and Mattawa. The county’s portion of the corridor runs from the Arnprior/Ottawa border in the south to the Renfrew/Mattawa border in the North. The intent is to work with local municipalities, the public and other partners to develop the multi-use trail.
