The City of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 proposed plan to connect a section of the E&N Rail Trail hit another roadblock when it learned the Capital Regional District was unsuccessful in obtaining a grant for their planned improvements for the trail.

CRD Parks initially suggested the City of Langford apply for a Bike B.C. grant to help defray the cost of building the dual-direction lane on the lower side of the Atkins Avenue roadway. The section would be about 230 metres long, about half of which falls within an Island Corridor Foundation right-of-way. The lanes would serve as a direct connection between the CRDB次元官网网址檚 future E&N Rail Trail improvements along Atkins and the Galloping Goose Trail.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 creating a commuter shortcut, for lack of a better term,B次元官网网址� said Langford director of engineering, Michelle Mahovlich. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 giving a safe connection between the Galloping Goose and the E&N Rail Trail.B次元官网网址�

When the CRDB次元官网网址檚 funding for the project fell through, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 involvement in the project was momentarily questioned, but Mahovlich said, B次元官网网址淎t this point weB次元官网网址檙e still looking ahead at proceeding.B次元官网网址�

The lanes will be built on the opposite side of the railroad tracks. The area allows for a very restricted work space, which has contributed to some design delays, she said.

The stall to the CRDB次元官网网址檚 planned improvements also means some changes to LangfordB次元官网网址檚 design. B次元官网网址淕eographically weB次元官网网址檝e moved the end of our project further away from the railway crossing.B次元官网网址� Doing so would not trigger a requirement to redesign the intersection. B次元官网网址淲e never budgeted to do railway crossing upgrades,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that work was included in the CRDB次元官网网址檚 improvement plans.

A Langford staff report estimated the connection projectB次元官网网址檚 value at just under $643,000, with the Bike B.C. grant covering about 50 per cent.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com