The Government of Canada, alongside the Government of Ontario and the West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association have announced a large investment in a rail bridge connecting the provinces of Ontario and Quebec over the Ottawa River.
The total cost of the project is around $425,000, and will cover 0.5 kilometers of bridge. The money is being spent on the installation of hardwood decking, rails and signs to ensure that the bridge is compliant with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs bridge guidelines, as well as the Ontario Motorized Snow Vehicle Act. The Government of Ontario says that:
“These improvements will provide a safe alternative to crossing the Ottawa River by snowmobile, connect trail networks in Ontario and Quebec and benefit businesses along the route due to the increase in snowmobile traffic. ”
The province will be providing $142,086, with the federal government providing $170,520 and the West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association providing $113,694. The investment is part of the federal government’s investing in Canada plan, a plan where the government is planning to invest more than $180 billion over the next 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
The Ontario snowmobile trail system allows riders the ability to explore over 30,000 kilometers of marked, groomed trails. Quebec’s snowmobile trail system has over 33,000 kilometers of marked, groomed trails. By creating an easy, safe way to cross the Ottawa river, the potential trail network for riders has more than doubled.
Jackson Brock is a snowmobile fanatic, and he is very excited about this new possibility.
“I have family in the Ottawa area, so this is awesome to me. To be able to have the opportunity to hit some new trails in another province without having to trailer my sled over there is great. It really opens some new doors for snowmobilers.”
Paul McDonald, President of the West Carleton Snowmobile snowmobile Trails Association released the following statement in response to the investment:
“West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association would like to thank the federal and provincial governments for their financial support of snowmobiling and snowmobile tourism. Each year snowmobiling generates over $3 billion of economic activity in Ontario and $3.3 million in eastern Ontario. The completion of the new snowmobile bridge over the Ottawa River will not only make snowmobiling safer, but it will bring economic and tourism benefits to both Ontario and Quebec. Snowmobiling is an outdoor, family-oriented activity that supports improvement to our physical activities and our quality of life. The completion of the 487.6 meter (1,600 foot) bridge is the final project in the development of a new 31-kilometre snowmobile trail in the West Carleton Snowmobile Trails Association club trail network that connects over 60,000 kilometers of snowmobile trails in Ontario and Quebec. I would like to thank everyone who has supported and contributed to this project. ”
The government has not yet announced an expected date of completion.
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