Napanee has reached their first major milestone in the construction of a new in-town trail, expanding their active transportation network.
Contractors have completed the removal of close to 1400 metres of rail along the former CN spur line between Dairy Avenue and the Highway 401 bridge. The process involved removing and cutting up rails, spikes, and plates, before taking them to a metal recycling facility. Limited brushing and tree removal was also done to permit access for specialized rail removal equipment.
With this phase of the project complete, work is set to begin on the next phase in early September. Municipal public works staff will be laying gravel aggregate along the trail bed and performing vegetation control at the trail sides to prepare the area for public use. Construction will then continue with the extension of the trail from the former CN spur line to Crouse Street. The route will cross County Road 1 and follow Church Street south to a loop connector through Riverside Cemetery before linking with existing cemetery roadways.
The project is anticipated to be complete by the end of October 2026.
