Construction on the Steinhoe Ridge trail is over for the season, as winter has closed in and the grant to pay for work on the trail is finished.
Terrace Off Road Cycling Association (TORCA) received $120,000 from the provincial government for labour, supplies and worker training to build a 7 km multi-purpose hiking and cycling trail on Steinhoe Ridge Mountain, just north of Terrace Mountain.
The project managed to complete 3 km of trail as it offered training to eight people looking to get back into the workforce.
“We are really pleased with the outcome,” said Tara Irwin, vice president of TORCA, explaining in the grant application the group had indicated the completion of 5 km, something which they knew at the time to be quite ambitious.
And despite a less-than-perfect building season, Irwin said the crew did well on the project, where they lost one person to a job and another for inconsistent attendance.
In another boost to the Terrace trail system, a connector trail, called T2, was built over the spring and summer through volunteer efforts.
The trail joins the Steinhoe Ridge trail with the Terrace Mountain trail network, meeting at Kitselas Rd.
Tony Moore from TORCA was instrumental in the building of the connector trail, which he says is 80 per cent finished.
He explains the two new trails give cyclists a lot more opportunity to ride for longer distances.
Moore said TORCA hopes to eventually extend the trail system to Spring Creek Rd., north of Terrace.
Irwin said in all it has been a strong season for work on Terrace’s recreation trails.
‘It’s been a big season having the work done on those two trails, its been really exciting,” Irwin said, adding both trails will be great for hiking as well, and she hopes everyone gets out and uses them.
Irwin said TORCA will continue to look for grants to assist with building and improving trails in and around Terrace.