In preparation for the winter tourism season, Northern Ontario's snowmobile trails are getting an infusion of cash to boost trail infrastructure.
On Sept. 28, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund announced $834,904 for 10 projects across Northern Ontario.
The work is expected to benefit locals who use the trails recreationally as well as tourists.
The list of projects includes:
- repairs and maintenance to the Pickerel River Bridge in Pickerel River;
- decommissioning of bridges 76.8 and 73.2 and installation of culverts in their place near Mattawa;
- replace the existing bridge over Whitson River in Greater Sudbury with a new 28-foot steel bridge;
- bridge replacements over Morton River and McGrindle River near Hanmer in Greater Sudbury;
- bridge refurbishment over Sheppard Creek on the Soo Highlands Loop in Searchmont;
- trail reroute of 60 kilometres of trail D108A between Dubreuilville and Hornepayne;
- trail reroute of 36 kilometres of Top C trail in the Municipality of Gogama;
- bridge replacement over Little Black River north of Kirkland Lake;
- installation of a culvert on Top A Trail near the Municipality of Mattice-Val Côté to eliminate the need for a snow bridge, resolving issues with melting and flooding of the trail; and
- trail reroute of 25 kilometres of trail A113A near Atikokan.
According to the province, Ontario is home to 30,000 kilometres of snowmobile trails, and the industry generates up to $3.3 billion annually in economic activity.
