Pedestrians and cyclists cross the Selkirk Trestle area of the Galloping Goose trail on Aug. 10. The busiest sections of the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails will be widened to create separated routes for walking and cycling over the next six years. (Jake Romphf/News Staff) A steady stream of lunchtime commuters crossed the Selkirk Trestle by foot or bike on Thursday (Aug. 10) as use of the busy corridor linking the Vic West and Burnside Gorge neighbourhoods is increasing faster than expected.
It’s among the busiest sections of the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails that in the coming years will see $53.5 million used for widening the corridor into separated pedestrian and cycling routes, along with adding better lighting.
The Capital Regional District board on Wednesday (Aug. 9) opted for an accelerated option that will see $50 million secured through debt in order to complete the work over six years instead of two decades. The CRD will repay the borrowed funds over 15 years, with the costs in the coming years translating into $28 annually for the average household.
Daily summer volumes on the trail sections set for the work reached over 3,750 users in July 2022 and the number is rising quicker than previously expected. It was projected just a few years ago that trailgoers would reach 4,500 a day by 2040, but the CRD said that amount could soon be exceeded.
New data shows the trail section between the Selkirk Trestle and Switch Bridge is expected to see 5,900 riders and […]
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