GREENSTONE — Six years of hard work has paid off for volunteers with the Greenstone Snowmobile Club.
Construction of a long-planned bridge over Suckle Creek, between Geraldton and Longlac, has finally begun.
Eric Corbin, president of the club, said the $350,000 project will eliminate a dangerous situation for trail groomers who have been been forced to divert to Highway 11 in order to bypass the creek.
"It's mostly for the volunteers and for public safety. Suckle Creek does not freeze well in the winter due to its fast current. Every time the groomer grooms the trail, he has to go onto the highway, up a blind hill, and back onto the trail. There's so many fatal collisions in our area, and we're trying to avoid creating another one."
A survey and engineering work for the project were completed three years ago, but the project got held up in the permitting process.
After the club received a construction permit from the Ministry of Natural Resources earlier this month, a construction firm installed the supports and beams for the 60-foot crossing.
In the fall, work will continue with installation of the decking, railings and both ramps, and the bridge is expected to be in operation by December 1.
"It's on our most popular trail. It's our main link between Geraldton and Longlac, because once you leave Greenstone, your next destination would be Hearst, which is 240 kilometres from Longlac," Corbin said.
He said the project was made possible by a $350,000 grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.
