Work has begun on the first section of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail.
Construction is taking place on the Enderby-Splatsin pilot section of the trail, a two-kilometre stretch that marks the first “shovels in the ground” phase of the project. Work began near Highway 97A in Enderby.
Splatsin First Nation, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District and the Regional District of North Okanagan have partnered to bring the project to fruition. Once completed, the rail trail will be a 50 km non-motorized greenway trail for walking and cycling along the rail corridor between Sicamous and Armstrong.
The regional districts and Splatsin say the pilot section will allow residents and visitors to get a feel for the trail surface, road crossings, staging and signage ahead of the development of the full corridor while the parties wait for additional funding.
The contract for the development of the pilot section was awarded to Yucwmenlúcwu, which translates to ‘Caretakers of the Land’ in Secwepemctsin. Yucwmenlúcwu is a division of the Splatsin Development Corporation.
The provincial and federal governments contributed just over $459,000 for the project through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, while the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association partnered with the provincial Ministry of Tourism to secure $250,000.
Construction for the pilot section is expected to wrap up this fall.
READ MORE: CSRD optimistic work on North Okanagan Shuswap Rail Trail can proceed
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