The city has received provincial funding to complete a new multi-use pathway this year.
The City of Castlegar is one of three regional recipients of BikeBC funding and will receive $79,679 to build a multi-use pathway connecting the existing Connors Road multi-use pathway with the Kinnaird Bridge. Construction of the pathway is part of the city’s Columbia Avenue Complete Street Redevelopment Project, identified in the plans as the Bridge to Bridge Connection.
The path will be approximately 330 meters long and the cost for the project is estimated at $160,000, with the BikeBC funding covering nearly 50 per cent of the cost. Now that the City of Castlegar has received approval for the funding, Chris Barlow, director of transportation and civic works, says they can proceed with the project.
“We’re just getting the final approvals in place and should hope to be out to tender in July sometime,” he says.
The pathway will be three meters wide and paved, off the road until it reaches the highway and then separated from the road by a concrete barrier.
The other two regional communities receiving BikeBC funding are Rossland and South Slocan, through the Central Kootenay Regional District. Rossland received $226,026 for a separated bike path and a multi-use pathway on Washington St. between First Ave. and Kirkup Ave., and the RDCK received $176,800 toward the South Slocan Community Greenway.
These are the first three projects receiving BikeBC funding this year and more will be announced in the coming weeks, according to a press release from the province.
“Local governments in every region of the province recognize the importance of providing residents and visitors more opportunities to cycle for commuting, recreation and tourism,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone in the release. “I’m pleased that we’re able to provide funding through our BikeBC program for new projects in Rossland, Castlegar and South Slocan.”
BikeBC is a provincial cost-sharing program that helps communities build cycling projects with the goal of attracting and supporting commuter and tourism cyclists. The BikeBC funding is part of BC on the Move, the provincial government’s 10-year transportation plan. The ministry of transportation and infrastructure has committed to $18 million over three years to cost-share with municipalities on projects like bike trails, pedestrian bridges, multi-use paths and shoulder bikeways.