Hardwood Creek Bridge Improvements Keeps Trail Access Open

Access to a popular multi-use trail in the County of Frontenac will remain open thanks to improvements to infrastructure funded by the Canada Community-Building Fund.  

The Frontenac K&P Trail is a recreational trail that extends 180 km from downtown Kingston through Frontenac County north to Renfrew. It is part of the Trans Canada Trail network and forms a key north-south route in the provincial cycling network.

In 2021, Frontenac County invested the Canada Community-Building Fund into the restoration of a bridge that crosses Hardwood Creek and provides access to the K&P Trail just south of the Village of Verona.

Wood decking on the bridge was worn and beginning to disintegrate, affecting the safety and stability of the structure. The decking was replaced and treated, and the approaches to the bridge on both sides were improved with fresh stone dust and regraded to improve safety and accessibility.

The Hardwood Creek Bridge plays a key role in the local active transportation network. It not only allows for access to the K&P Trail, but also provides a route for travellers to access local businesses off the trail, giving a boost to the local economy.  

Between June and December 2021, automated trail counters recorded more than 7,200 trail users in the Hardwood Creek area. Thanks to the Canada Community-Building Fund, those travellers will continue to have access to the K&P Trail.