Bay Roberts not looking to expand ATV route… yet

By Mark Squibb / June 23, 2023

The Town of Bay Roberts’ Planning and Development Committee is recommending council not expand the town’s ATV route, but the option isn’t off the table entirely.

During last week’s meeting, Town CAO Nigel Black told council that the Planning and Development Committee had discussed the possibility of expanding the trail.

“We did discuss this briefly, and I think some of us feel that this might be a good thing to do in time, but at this point we feel that more time is necessary to continue to evaluate the existing trails before we consider any new ones, so we recommend no action at this point in time,” said Black.

Councilor Dean Franey agreed with that assessment.

“I think that’s a good plan,” said Franey. “I think baby steps is the right move. What we have serves the purpose we intended.”

After an extensive period of discussion, research and public consultation, council opened the route in May, 2022, for a six-month trial period, before voting to make the route a permanent fixture.

The route runs across the trestle in the Shearstown Estuary and crosses Route 70 to Cross Road and then follows Cross Road to Water Street where it continues along Water as far as Barracks Road and then back up to the old rail track.