CARLETON PLACE – The popular Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail (OVRT) is getting safety upgrades as it makes its way through the Carleton Place area.

The OVRT through Lanark County connecting Carleton Place, Almonte and Pakenham is part of a larger 296-kilomtre trail between Smith Falls and Mattawa, ON opened within the last couple of years to the delight of many outdoor enthusiasts who like to travel by bike, ATV, snowmobile and even horse. The multi-use trail was a multi-year project to repurpose a section of the former Canadian Pacific Railway line.

“The OVRT through Carleton Place has been a well-used trail since its opening in October, 2018,” Carleton Place council released in a statement yesterday (Sept. 22).

The OVRT crosses nine roadways at grade through Carleton Place. Of the urban roadways, the William Street crossing at the intersection of Mullett Street is the only controlled crossing with the recent introduction of a four-way stop and crosswalk.

“All other crossings are currently uncontrolled, and pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to vehicles using these roads,” Carleton Place staff said, “The director of Public Works presented the committee of the W=whole with two options for crossings at Lake Avenue East, Coleman Street, Albert Street, Franklin Street, Rosamund Street and Mill Street.”

Council has directed staff to proceed with Option 1 which includes the following works to be completed in 2020:

constructing unlit pedestrian crossings at Lake Avenue East, Coleman Street, Albert Street, Franklin Street, Rosamund Street at a cost of $8,500;

constructing a modified trail connection from the OVRT to Mill Street at a cost of less than $10,000;

to install two signs to warn motorists of the trail crossing on Moore Street.

In addition, staff was directed to include an amount of $30,000 in the town’s draft 2021 budget for the construction of a lit pedestrian crosswalk on Moore Street.