By Dan Aceto

Staff Writer

 
 The Eastern Trail Alliance celebrated the grand opening of a new 5-mile trail Tuesday morning, much to the delight of bikers, walkers and nature enthusiasts. 

The trail, which connects Arundel, Kennebunk and Biddeford, was constructed in September 2009 and is one of many segments that eventually will form the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway from Calais to Key West, Fla. 

The trail is open to the public and can be accessed from West Cole Road in Biddeford, next to Southern Maine Medical Center, where free parking is available. 

John Andrews, president of Eastern Trail Alliance, said the trail is a worthy project the public can enjoy, and was a win-win for everyone involved.
“The vision is so compelling,” Andrews said. “It’s as much fun to ride this as it is the Farm Road in Acadia and it’s right in our own backyard.”

Andrews said many others contributed to the success of the project and acknowledged representatives from the Maine Department of Transportation, design firm HNTB, gas company Unitil Service Corp. of New Hampshire, Brown Industrial Group and Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey. 

Twomey, who was awarded a plaque of recognition along with the others, said she would like to see more trails built across Maine and that it is important for people to stay active and keep exercising.
  “It wasn’t just a week ago that I was in the hospitas … maybe if I did more exercising that wouldn’t have happened,” Twomey said, with a laugh.

Construction of the trail was no cakewalk, however.

The land, which is owned by Unitil, has a high-pressure gas line beneath the surface.

“The land posed many logistical problems. Access was quite limited, which made it hard to get materials in and out and we were working adjacent to a high-pressure gas line,” said Mike Desrosiers, project manager of Brown Industrial Group.

Alec O’Meara, media relations manager for Unitil, said the company was thrilled to make the trail a reality and was more than happy to offer land to the Eastern Trail Alliance under one condition. 

“If there are any maintenance issues (with the gas line), we need to be able to close the trail until work is completed,” O’Meara said.

Andrews said, “were it not for Unitil, we would not be here today.”

Tim Cote, who works for HNTB in Westbrook, discussed the intent of the company in conceptualizing the trail.
“We wanted to design a trail that people could use for many years to come and I thought we cooperated well with all the shareholders involved to make the project a success.”

Maine Sen. Susan Collins agreed and in a letter to the Eastern Trail Alliance said the trail “provides another scenic opportunity to enjoy Maine’s landscape.” 

After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony by Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Cole, people of all ages took off on foot and bike to enjoy the trail’s scenery.

One of those people was Peter Sargent of Kennebunk, an avid cyclist and member of the Eastern Trail Alliance. Sargent said the trail is not just for bikers and anyone who wants to enjoy the path is welcome.

 “I’m just glad there are people out there who realize the wonderful places left in the world that haven’t been ruined or overlooked, that we can enjoy.”

Staff Writer Dan Aceto can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237.