Carbonear trail cut off by water runoff

By Mark Squibb

Carbonear councillor Danielle Doyle said she wants to see the provincial government address water runoff that has seriously hampered residents’ enjoyment of a local trail.

In theory, residents walking along Nell’s Walking Trail can cross beneath Columbus Drive and continue onto the Dr. Davis Earle Walking Trail.

Doyle, however, said that water runoff from the highway has made a portion of the trail impassable.

“Right now, we have these two beautiful trails, but three-quarters of the year, you can’t get from one to the other because of the water runoff,” said Doyle. “You might want to park at the pergola area and walk all the way in as far as the end of the Davis Earle Trail at Knox’s and come out, but a lot of the year, unless it’s dry, you have that one section going up the hill where it’s a complete river.”

Doyle noted many students use the trail, when passable, to cross safely beneath Columbus Drive. She said the matter is the responsibility of the provincial government, and asked whether the Town could contact the Department of Highways regarding the issue.

Staff were agreeable to Doyle’s suggestion. Councillor Peter Snow, meanwhile, suggested that perhaps the Department would allow the town to build a drain to keep the trail dry.

On the subject of trails, councillor Chris O’Grady said that he would like to see the Town budget for trail upgrades in the coming year’s budget.