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Oct 6, 2020Today, an important gap in the Crow Wing Trail is being closed as a
new pedestrian bridge officially opens. This $250,000 project over the
Joubert Creek in the RM of De Salaberry is the culmination of ongoing
efforts to close gaps in the Trans Canada Trail across Canada.
In 1999, the Crow Wing Trail was registered as the section of the Trans
Canada Trail from Winnipeg to the Canada-U.S. Border. The founding
municipalities of Ritchot, De Salaberry, Franklin, St-Pierre-Jolys and
Emerson were joined a few years later by the Town of Niverville and
Roseau River First Nation.
An 1887 provincial map was used to lay out the modern-day route for
this ox-cart trail used in the mid-1800`s. Municipal road allowances,
dikes, bush trails and parks were linked to form a continuous trail.
The Crow Wing Trail officially opened in 2006 and since then,
Association volunteers from these seven local governments have
worked together to maintain and improve this 200-km length of trail.
The bridge being unveiled today is the 6 th bridge installed/restored on
the Crow Wing Trail. It is also part of a greenway project – something
Trans Canada Trail supports and encourages – making use of municipal
road allowances closed to cars and trucks. The new trail sections
require more maintenance but the result is a safer and more enjoyable
experience.
Last but not least, with this closed gap, our Association can now launch
two new projects. Firstly, the Crow Wing Trail Camino Project, an
international project that will connect our part of the world with the
historical Camino Trail in Spain; and secondly, the Crow Wing Trail
Passport, which will encourage users to complete our 200 km of trail
one section at a time. Once all eleven sections have been stamped by
local businesses, a Certificate of Completion will be provided to the
users as proof of their accomplishment.
