The Paudash Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club has announced a $225,000 project to replace an aging bridge, on Trans-Ontario Trail TOP E in Harcourt, is moving ahead.
Club president, Jon Cumming, said the bridge is an important crossing on the trail, which runs north-south of Fishtail Lake Road and parallel to Elephant Lake Road, providing passage over Allen Creek.
“The existing bridge has reached the end of its useful life and is no longer suitable for use. Replacing it is essential to maintaining this important connection in our trail network and delivering the safe, reliable riding experience our community deserves,” he said.
The project was announced on the club’s Facebook page Nov. 10. Lakefield’s R&J Machine is handling removal of the existing bridge and coordinating final engineering and installation of the new 90-foot structure. The bridge is being made by Ebert Welding Design, based in Temiskaming Shores.
The bulk of the cost is being covered by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, with the local district and Paudash Trail Blazers members making up the difference. Dysart et al township has chipped in $2,938 to pay for a survey to ensure the new bridge remains within a municipal road allowance, and not on private land.
“Needless to say, snowmobiling is so darn important to the economy around here, we’ve just got to find the money” deputy mayor elect Walt McKechnie said of the request at an October council meeting. Council directed the funds come from municipal reserves.
Once the new bridge is installed, Cumming said club volunteers will install timber decking and prepare the crossing for the upcoming snowmobile season, though he’s looking for more help.
“If you’ve ever wondered how you can make a meaningful contribution to snowmobiling in our region, this is a terrific example,” Cumming said. “This is more than replacing a bridge. It’s about building a sustainable trail system for the next generation of riders.”
