Table Mountains

Progress on T'Railway
February 23, 2008

All inspections of the structures along the T'Railway Provincial Park have now been completed and the majority of structures have been reopened to the public.

Environment Minister Charlene Johnson says all structures between St. John's and Stephenville are now re-opened with the exception of Glide Brook near Deer Lake. A further assessment of Glide Brook has determined that the structure will remain closed until further notice. Mary Ann Brook and Black Duck Brook are also now reopened to the public. Assessments of the structures from Stephenville to Port Aux Basques were completed this week and eight structures will remain closed as a result. Middle Brook, Barry Brook, Fischells Brook, Robinsons River West and East, Flat Bay Bridge, Morris Brook Bridge and Codroy North Branch Bridge are off limits until safety issues are addressed.

It's great news to hear the T'Railway bridges have been reopened. Several announced as still closed on the West Coast section have never really been opened and some such as the one at Morris Brook don't exist. Those bridges washed out years ago causing hikers,Snowmobiles and ATV'S to cross the river beds or detour around. The one at North Branch forces people to travel along the shoulders of the TCH for a kilometer or more. It's no easy task maintaining this trailbed and one of the factors involved when the railway closed it.I worked on those sections of trails when employed by the railway and know conditions of the trail can change daily.