The Resort Municipality of Whistler is currently engaged in the engineering and design of a Valley Trail extension from Whistler Creek to Function Junction.
There are some challenges to overcome, including a stretch of private property, but the plan is to have the trail in place by next year. The municipality’s five-year plan sets aside $50,000 towards the Valley Trail expansion in 2003, and the total costs will be determined by the routing and method used to build the trail.
Crews are currently repairing the sewage lines on the old Miller Creek Road, which the Valley Trail will one day run along, according to Keith Bennett, the manager of parks operations. Although the sewer work needed to be done, it is being done is such a way as to accommodate the trail.
"There are still a few details to work out, and there are some sensitive environmental issues… but we’re at the engineering, planning and design phase, and we hope to begin construction next year," said Bennett.
One of the solutions, which calls for a right of way through private land and either filling in or building some kind of floating board walk along the western shore of part of Alpha Lake, is preferred but it is not the only route being studied. Another Valley Trail path could connect briefly with Alta Lake Road, but it has a hill, a road, and two railway crossings to contend with.
Another new section of Valley Trail that is currently under construction, connecting Whistler Creek to Alta Lake Road near Rainbow Park, should be completed by the end of the year.
