The Eastern Trail celebrated a major milestone last week with the opening of a new bridge over I-95. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to mark the occasion with trail officials, community members, and students and staff from the nearby Kennebunk Elementary School.
The bridge is a part of the Eastern Trail’s 387-mile-long section in Maine of the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway that stretches from this state to Florida. The trail is an environmental triumph as well as a recreational gem that stretches the entire coast.
But the work is far from over.
Now that the York County span stretches through Kennebunk, its completion to the border must be planned and funded.
The group responsible for the planning and fundraising ”“ The Eastern Trail Alliance ”“ will begin meeting in Wells this month to continue their work on the project in Maine. The organization’s meetings are open to the public, and those who are interested should get involved to help with fundraising and planning for this unique project.
The trail follows old rail corridor that was used by The Eastern Railroad, the first to connect Boston to Portland. Trains operated from 1842 until 1944. Since then, the corridor has been used by utility companies for natural gas and electricity transmission.
Twenty miles of open rail corridor remain between the new turnpike bridge and Route 236 in South Berwick. When the trail is complete, it will span 60 miles in state, starting in Kittery and making its way through Kennebunk, ending in South Portland’s Bug Light Park.
As more work is completed on the trail, we hope Mainers will utilize this great new resource for education and exercise.
Individuals and families can bike or hike the span and see Maine’s natural landscape in a safe, cleared environment. Schools can also utilize portions of the trail to get students outdoors for activities and education.
This multi-million dollar project should be used to the fullest extent, especially since Maine Turnpike Authority has been a major financial backer. Having “open space” available for recreation is one of the great luxuries of living in Maine, and the Eastern Trail is a great addition to the many preserves and parks in this state.
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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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