Waterloo Region moves closer to bridging the gap on G2G trail

The Region of Waterloo is ready to push ahead with a major bridge project. CTV’s Jeff Pickel learns what it will mean for the area.

The Region of Waterloo is adding a major connection to the Guelph to Goderich Trail.

The G2G Rail Trail stretches over 132 kilometres, following the path of the former Guelph to Goderich Rail Line that was decommissioned in the late 1980s.

However, the path is broken by several missing links over rivers along the route. One of those links spans the Conestogo River near Wallenstein in Wellesley Township.

The Region of Waterloo is planning to build a pedestrian bridge that could connect over 30 kilometres of trail.

“We’re trying to improve that connectivity in between various rural communities and improve the overall experience for the trail users,” Jim Ellerman, Waterloo Region’s head of transportation capital projects, said.

The current detour around the missing bridge puts cyclists and hikers on Line 86, a busy road.

“You’re not taking your children down that highway,” Colleen Brown, a trail user, said. “I wouldn’t be, and I’m an experienced cyclist. I wouldn’t take little kids on there.”

Morgan Brown told CTV News he plans his trips to avoid riding on the highway.

“I come out to this section to park because I don’t want to do the 86 highway traffic,” he said. “It’s pretty fast, pretty busy and you never know what’s going to happen.”

The region said the G2G Trail is popular, with approximately 800,000 users last year.

They believe building the bridge will increase its tourism potential.

“This’ll definitely promote some tourism here, bring a little bit more tourism in the rural areas, bring it to more places like Wallenstein, like Elmira and West Montrose,” Ellerman said.

The bridge project is currently undergoing an environmental assessment, and the region is collecting public feedback.

The region estimates the project will cost $7.5 million dollars and are advocating for provincial funding to help support the project.

In March, the federal government pledged $180,000 to build the bridge.