A shiny new bridge has reconnected Hen and Chicken's Island to White's Bay trail after five years without one.
Construction on the bridge took place in August, with the town announcing today the pedestrian bridge is complete.
The Hen and Chickens Trail is on the west end of Collingwood off the White's Bay trail and it used to extend to a small island with a short bridge and boardwalk.
However, as water levels change in the lake, some of the trail becomes flooded and cuts off the island portion of the trail.
When the water levels rose in 2018, trails committee members built a higher boardwalk and extended the bridge to keep the trail intact.
But in early 2019, a piece of the bridge broke off and was washed away. A part of the railing from the broken bridge washed up on Wasaga Beach later.
Trails volunteers regularly brought the subject of building a new bridge up to council, but funding was a hurdle. A new bridge would also require design and engineering to meet safety standards.
The bridge made it into the 2023 budget.
An informal public celebration has been organized by local residents who have planned a "bridge party" on Thanksgiving weekend. They're inviting people to walk to the bridge on Oct. 12 at noon. Parking is very limited, so active transportation is encouraged.
For more information about Collingwood trails, including the trail map, visit the town website here.
