Langley Township has received a $400,000 provincial grant to extend the trail system from Derby Reach Park to the Golden Ears Bridge.
The Township got the word about the grant late last week, with MLAs Rich Coleman and Mary Polak letting Mayor Jack Froese know the good news. The grant will cover 80 per cent of the costs of extending the trail from its current end point at 208 Street and Allard Crescent to the bridge.
Al Neufeld, manager of parks design and development for the Township, said the trail will go along the west side of 208 Street, separated from the road. It will then go west on 102B Avenue to 201 Street, on the shoulder of the road. In the long-term, the Township would like to put the trail along the dyke to the north of 102B Avenue, but does not yet have permission to do so.
The trail will then go south on 201 Street, on the east side of the road. The existing sidewalks will be widened to three metres. It will then connect to the pedestrian and cyclist ramp to the Golden Ears Bridge, at 201 Street and 100A Avenue.
Neufeld said the construction of the new trail will take about two years. It will be part of the Trans-Canada Trail, which was severed in Langley when the Albion ferry service stopped running in 2009.
It will also be part of the Explore the Fraser initiative, which is trying to open up river views and access throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Froese said the grant, coupled with $100,000 the Township has budgeted for the trail extension, is a good example of various levels of government working together to bring new projects to the community.
“This project is an important step in expanding recreational infrastructure in Langley, and will serve as a key off-road connector between communities. This will go a long way to help encourage Langley residents to live active, healthy lifestyles,” Coleman said.