The City of Terrace announced on Tuesday (July 5) that construction is scheduled to start on both the Grand Trunk pathway extension from Frank Street to the Kalum River Bridge, and the Lakelse connection project from Apsley Street to the Old Skeena River Bridge. Construction starts July 11 with plans for completion in the fall.
The Grand Trunk contract has been awarded to Uplands Nursery, and the Lakelse contract has been awarded to Bear Creek Contracting. The Grand Trunk pathway project will complete the recreational and active transportation link west to Kitsumkalum First Nation, that the city said will also address safety issues along the corridor, at a projected cost $1 million.
The city undertook the Grand Trunk pathway master plan in 2008 to link downtown Terrace to the Kitsumkalum River to the west of the city. Since the adoption of the master plan, two of the three sections have been completed.
The remaining section, the “Skeena River Walk,” will link the “Grand View Walk” section, which ends at Frank Street.
The extension connects the existing commuter and recreational pathway from Frank Street to the Kitsumkalum River bridge along the northern portion of Hwy 16 right-of-way.
In 2018 the city conducted a feasibility review of the alignment for this final segment of the pathway and the proposed north alignment was considered the most feasible option.
In 2020, the city was awarded a $500,000 Rural Community Development Grant through the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development which allowed the city to go ahead with the project.
That year council also allocated $505,000 from the 2019 Gas Tax Program toward this project.
The Lakelse Gateway Connection Project will more safely connect Terrace to Thornhill by way of a 1-kilometre multi-use pathway on the north side of Lakelse Ave. The existing gravel shoulder will be upgraded to a separated 3-metre wide asphalt pathway along with the completion of related roadworks.
The pathway will span from the old Skeena Bridge at the east end to the entry into downtown Terrace at Apsley Street.
At Apsley Street, the pathway will finish at a small gateway—likely including signage, landscaping, and a resting area—marking the entrance into downtown Terrace. In 2021 the city received a provincial Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure grant for $921,352 to complete the project.
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