Work on a Tunnel Under County Road 25 to Connect the G2G Trail Near Blyth Expected to Start Next Week

by Bob Montgomery

Work on a tunnel under County Road 25 to connect the G2G trail near Blyth is expected to start next week.

Huron County's Director of Public Works, Imran Khalid, says the tunnel that was there was filled in some time ago and he's not sure why that was done. He says asking everyone using the G2G Trail to cross the highways is creating an inconvenience at the very least, as well a serious risk and for some people with mobility issues it could mean the end of their trip.

The G2G Trail group had asked that the tunnel be put back in at their cost. The county's commitment is limited to time spent on project management in dealing with the contractor and the consultants involved in the project. Beyond that, the G2G Trail group is covering all of the costs.

Khalid also points out the trail has become a huge asset for the county in the number of people it has brought from Guelph to several villages along the trail and then to Goderich at the end of the trail.

“There's been a lot of traffic on the trail that brings people to Goderich, where they often stay overnight and eat at the restaurants and shop downtown and shop. Restaurant owners in Blyth have commented on the increase in traffic on the main street there as a result of the G2G Trail coming through the village.”

As a road authority, they want to limit the number of people crossing the highway as much as possible and the tunnel will have some accessibility features built into it to make it easier and much safer for people with mobility issues.

Construction is scheduled to start on May 21st and be completed by the middle of June, though weather will have some influence on that timeframe. The goal is to make sure that the road is open again by the first of July so the construction doesn't interfere with the peak tourism season.