Phase 1 of Pathways Expansion Project reaches substantial completion

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Sunny South News

The Town of Coaldale’s Pathways Expansion Project reached a significant milestone in early October with the substantial completion of Phase 1 of construction.

The completion of this phase brought 4.3 km of new pathways to Coaldale for recreational use and has already received enormous positive feedback from members of the community.

The Pathways Expansion Project was identified as a priority for Town Council based on a strong community desire for more recreational trails and pathways in Coaldale. Funding was set aside in the 2019-2021 Capital Budget for over 7.1 km of new pathways to provide safe, non-vehicular connectivity throughout the community.

“Investing in recreation infrastructure is central to making Coaldale a livable community and attracting recreation-focused groups and activities,” said Coaldale Mayor Kim Craig. “The pathways project had low upfront cost and is free for residents to use making recreation in Coaldale more accessible than ever.”

While the new pathways are ready for use, a few additional features will be added to elevate the final product. To ensure the safety of pathway users, swing gates will be installed to prevent vehicles from driving on the pavement. Lanes will be painted along certain sections to improve pedestrian visibility and reinforce separation from vehicle traffic. Site amenities such as park benches and waste receptacles are also in the process of being installed.

Wayfinding signage will be added throughout the network to ensure ease of navigation and to improve the pedestrian experience by helping users reach their destinations. The integration of the signage will go through a minimum year-long engagement process to provide opportunities for community feedback throughout multiple seasons of use.

“By including more value-added components to the pathway network we can help users build confidence and trust in walking to more destinations and encourage exploration within our own community,” said Craig. “The pathway network is one of many recreational-focused projects underway that will make Coaldale a more welcoming, vibrant community.”