The expanded and upgraded West Bragg Creek Parking Lot has been open since early August. Trail users are enjoying the extra space for parking, the additional washrooms and the way all the trails connect around the parking lot. A few details are still unfinished:
• Access road paving – should be complete by end of September, weather dependent
• Maintenance compound buildings – should be complete by end of October
• Trailhead signage
The new Iron Creek segment of the Trans Canada Trail, between Range Road 54 and Boundary Ridge trail has seen regular traffic since it was finished in August. There is now signage in place at the junctions, so you can follow the links all the way to the West Bragg Creek Parking Lot and beyond.
Work continues on the construction of Kestrel, a six kilometre trail that links Merlin View Loop with the north portion of Tom Snow Trail. Over 4 km of the alignment has been cleared and about 3 km of tread has been constructed. It has been difficult to compact the dry ground into a firm trail, but now that there has been some precipitation, the tread should settle in. The trail does not yet connect all the way through, so if you want to get a preview of this spectacular new trail, you will have to join a volunteer trail crew (via our web site)!!!
Trans Canada Trail (TCT) – Phases 2/3 Update
Construction of the West Bragg Creek Trail (TCT) Phases 2/3 is expected to be complete by the end of September, weather permitting. The trail has 3/4 inch gravel in place and will be top coated and compacted during September with a finer gravel mix to provide a smoother surface than currently is in place on Phase 1. Phase 1 may also be top coated with this finer gravel mix in September, provided the GBCTA has sufficient funding. Signage and two crosswalks are also planned for installation later in September on Phases 2/3, plus seeding of trail organic side slopes. The pedestrian bridge just east of Wildrose, 472 meters of strong post guardrail and 600 meters of trail along Mountain View Park Road have been deferred until sufficient funding is raised.
The GBCTA will have spent $1.2 million on Phases 2/3 by September 30 with major funding provided by TransCanada Trail, Alberta Government Community Facilities Enhancement Program, Alberta TrailNet, Rocky View County, The Calgary Foundation and GBCTA fundraising and donations. The GBCTA would like to thank all those who have supported this trail with funding, volunteer work or whatever you did to help make this project a reality.
We would like to recognize volunteer leaders Peter Tucker, Conrad Schiebel, Greg Po er, Bill Hoyne, Carber Goodlet, Willie Prebushewsky, Dean Cockshu , Doug McKeague, Alf Skrastins, Mike Christ, David Cebuliak, Jeff Hughes and Dan Creaser. We would also like to recognize Janice and Mike Wattam and Noel Nelson for agreeing to provide much needed trail Right of Way on their private land. Finally we would like to thank John Lajeunesse and the folks at Bragg Creek Excavating for their extensive efforts since this spring to construct this major trail.
We sincerely hope trail users enjoy this major new trail that helps connect our community while improving public safety and providing numerous other benefits.
XCBC Ski Winter Program Registration is open – visit their website: www.xcbraggcreek.ca
Dog Poop Reminder – Please don’t forget to scoop your poop and put in the bins provided!
