Work is officially underway on construction of the LINK Pathway between Coaldale in Lethbridge after a groundbreaking ceremony on June 13.
The day marked the start of phase one of the project, which will run from the Saint Mary’s River Irrigation District drainage canal just outside of Coaldale, to an area just before Highway 12. There will be a turnaround at the end of the first phase of the path.
The LINK Pathway Committee will now work to raise funds for the second phase, which will continue west to 43 Street in Lethbridge. The second phase will include a highway underpass and three canal bridges if funding is successful and the committee is hoping to see it completed around the summer of 2025.
“This has been a long time anticipated and [I am] really proud and really happy to be here and to be representative of this project,” said Henry Doeve, chairman of LINK Pathway.
During his presentation he said it took about 12 years to get from an idea to groundbreaking. He said getting to this point was more about persistence than difficulty for the committee.
“It was just keeping the vision alive and making sure people understood the vision, so just a lot of energy, it just took time to get to this point and at the end of the day, it’s the funding,” he said.
The first phase of the project will cost $400,000, all of which is in place, according to Doeve. Overall, the project is estimated to cost $5 million.
The project has been a collaboration between the Town of Coaldale, Lethbridge County, the City of Lethbridge and the Saint Mary’s River Irrigation District. So far it has received funding from various governments and private donors and according to the committee’s website, the total of the project is 33 per cent funded.
During the groundbreaking ceremony Coaldale mayor Jack Van Rijn presented the pathway committee with a $100,000 cheque.
“As a council, we could not be more excited about the opportunities that the construction of this pathway will bring to the region and we look forward to putting Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, Coaldale and the SMRID on the map for coming together to create a unique greenway that southern Albertans can enjoy for decades to come,” he said.
This first phase of the project will stretch 3.5 kilometres and the total distance is planned to be about 15. The LINK Pathway committee is still looking for donations on its website to help fund phase two.