The Newfoundland T’Railway is one of the province’s premiere trails. Stretching from St. John’s to Port aux Basques, it is a valuable asset enjoyed by residents and visitors.
One of the main connections on the route is the Bishop’s Falls Trestle. Spanning over 900 feet across the Exploits River, the Bishop’s Falls Trestle is the longest bridge in the province. To assist the Newfoundland T’Railway Council with improvements to this trestle, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), are investing a combined contribution of over $231,000 towards an economic development initiative.
The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, today announced a contribution of $55,232 for the project while the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA, announced a contribution of $176,358.
This investment will enable the Newfoundland T’Railway Council to replace approximately 280 metres of decking along the Bishop’s Falls Trestle. These repairs will ensure a high-quality user experience, helping to generate opportunities for tourism and recreational activities.
The Newfoundland T’Railway is part of the Trans Canada Trail Foundation network, the longest trail in the world.
Quotes
“The Bishop’s Falls Trestle is part of an economic generator for many communities in central Newfoundland, and this investment will help to further establish the T’Railway as one of the province’s prime outdoor attractions for a wide variety of users.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“This funding will help to support a fun and safe experience for trail users. The Newfoundland T’Railway is a multi-use and multi-season recreational attraction for local residents and visitors alike. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities while capturing a snapshot of the province’s natural landscape.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
“Atlantic Canada’s tourism industry is vital to the region’s economy and supports thousands of local jobs and businesses across the region. Organizations like the Newfoundland T’Railway Council are accelerating recovery in Newfoundland and Labrador’s communities by ensuring there are safe and appealing outdoor activities while promoting healthy lifestyles, year-round.”
Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA
“Bishop’s Falls is the longest trestle on the T’Railway and the planned infrastructure upgrades will enhance safety, accessibility and continuity of the trail for decades to come. This being Come Home Year, we also want to ensure that the trestle is in the best shape possible and that the existing decking is brought up to acceptable standards. This will certainly benefit residents and visitors alike as well as tourism operators and local businesses. We want to thank both the Federal and Provincial governments as well as the Trans Canada Trail for supporting this project.”
Rick Noseworthy
President, Newfoundland T’Railway Council
“The Trestle re-decking project was a long time coming, and we are so pleased to see it finally happen. While the Trestle is an important part of Bishop’s Falls life, it is also a provincial asset of great significance, and I thank Premier Furey, Minister Parsons, ACOA, the Newfoundland T’Railway Council, and all those who helped make this possible. I also want to thank Marathon Gold and the Bishop’s Falls Lions Club for their $5,000 and $2,840 contributions, respectively. Together, with Council’s $7,160, we contributed $15,000 to this project, and we are happy to do so.”
Bryan King
Mayor, Town of Bishop’s Falls
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Media contacts
Eric Humber
Industry, Energy and Technology
709-729-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Adrienne Luther
Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
709-729-4819, 730-2953
adrienneluther@gov.nl.ca
Paul McGrath
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) / Government of Canada
709-689-5731
paul.mcgrath@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Rick Noseworthy
Newfoundland T’Railway Council
709-725-1490
rnoseworthy@trailway.ca
Bryan King
Town of Bishop’s Falls
709-258-6581
bryanking@bishopsfalls.ca