The City of Castlegar has been given $59,000 from Bike BC for the Kinnaird Bridge to College Trail Multi-Use Pathway.
BikeBC is the province’s cost-sharing program that helps communities build cycling projects that attract and support commuter and tourism cyclists. This is the third Bike BC grant the city has received in the last three years.
“The trail will formalize the pathway that has been created from the east end of the Kinnaird Bridge that links to the Selkirk College Trails behind the Kootenay Gallery of Art,” explained director of transportation and civic works Chris Barlow.
The new path will be paved and will come from the east end of the bridge, utilizing the existing pathway and connect with the end of Heritage Way. The design will allow for cycling and pedestrian uses.
“The important piece for us is it’s just a continuation of the [Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan] program and the importance that the city has put around non-vehicle modes of transportation,” added Barlow. “It is formally linking the college lands and pathways with the city network, giving people a real viable option to commute to Selkirk College, whether they are students or faculty.”
Barlow also emphasized that the new connection will give community members a safer trail to access not just the art gallery, but the Doukhobour Discovery Centre and the extensive Selkirk College trail network as well. Parking and access to the trail on the west side of the bridge is available at the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce, or the Castlegar Community Complex.
BC Hydro has also donated $50,000 to the project and the City of Castlegar will pay the remaining $59,000 needed to complete the plan.
Just like the other pedestrian and cycling pathways that have been completed in the last few years, this section of trail is included in the city’s Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan. Barlow is happy with how things are moving forward with the plan, “We are making great progress on it,” he said. “The next big piece is the Columbia Avenue connections — the backbone per-se.”