Imagine being able to glide over the highway in Chilliwack from a brand-new pathway designed for cyclists and pedestrians.
It's something Chilliwack residents have been asking for and is now on deck.
City of Chilliwack is moving ahead with the $2.5 million Sardis Rail Trail North expansion project over Highway 1, from Luckakuck Way to Airport Road.
It's out to tender now in the city's request-for-proposals (RFP) process.
The existing Sardis Rail Trail is a city-built cycling and pedestrian path running beside the Southern Rail tracks, spanning from Webb Avenue to Luckakuck Way.
The capital plan approved for 2017 will see the trail extended as far north as Airport Road, which would more than double its length.
It would also mean crossing over Highway 1 and Chilliwack Creek to be connected to the Rail Bridge, which is owned by Southern Rail of BC.
City officials are hoping construction will be completed in 2018, but the exact schedule of the work is not known yet, pending approvals from various regulatory agencies, including fisheries work window confirmation.
Approval in principle was obtained from land owner, BC Hydro Real Estate Division, the land lessee, Southern Rail of BC as well as the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the owner of the rail bridge over the highway, said city staff.