CORNER BROOK, N.L. — Upgrades to the snowmobile/ATV trail from Watson’s Pond Road to the T’Railway will enhance the viability of the trail for all users.
That’s something the City of Corner Brook recognizes is important to the success of snowmobile and ATV tourism in the city and why council had no trouble agreeing to contribute to those upgrades.
The 2.2 kilometres of trail is rough and difficult to navigate and prevents many ATVers from accessing the west side of the city and businesses in the Lundrigan Drive area.
Upgrading it would connect Lundrigan Drive (the green tank) to the T’Railway.
Western Sno-Riders and the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation recently asked the city to contribute to the estimated $15,000 to $18,000 cost to do the work.
The snowmobile federation has committed $5,000, and the Sno-Riders $6,000, and council agreed to match that up to a maximum of $6,000.
Coun. Tony Buckle presented the motion on the request during Monday night’s council meeting.
Buckle said he travelled the trail system last week and saw the section in question. He also spoke with ATVers who didn’t want to go over it because it is pretty rough.
There’s a new restaurant in the Lundrigan Drive area, and Buckle said improvements to the trail would help it. He said that in the future more businesses will get involved with the trail system.
“We all know the dollars that the ATVs provide for our city, as well as the snowmobiles, and the work that we’ve done over the last couple of years and dollars it's brought into the city,” said Coun. Vaughn Granter.
Moving into winter, he said, this work is long overdue and will be a benefit to everyone involved.
Mayor Jim Parsons said this would be an extension to some work that was recently done with the same partners to get the trail done from the green tank out to Watson’s Pond Road.
The upgrades could add a number of weeks on either end of the snowmobile season.
“Weeks on the snowmobile season mean dollars for our businesses in the community. I think it’s probably money well spent.”
