Chrysler Canada Greenway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Chrysler Canada Greenway |
|
| The Greenway, Trans-Canada Trail | |
| Length: | 42 km (26 miles) (Extensions planned) |
|---|---|
| Formed: | 1997 |
| Direction: | North/South |
| From: | Highway 3 (Northern Terminus, but continues 2 km to N. Talbot Road) |
| To: | Colasanti's Tropical Gardens |
| Major cities: | Windsor, Ontario, Oldcastle, Ontario, Tecumseh, Ontario, Essex, Ontario, McGregor, Ontario, Harrow, Ontario, Arner, Ontario, Kingsville, Ontario, Ruthven, Ontario |
The Chrysler Canada Greenway is a 42 km-long rail trail in Essex County, Ontario, stretching from Oldcastle, Ontario (near Windsor, Ontario) to Leamington, Ontario.
Contents |
[edit] History
The trail dates back to the late 1980s, when CN Rail operated a line from Hiram Walkers distillery in Windsor, Ontario, south and east to Leamington, Ontario, with branch lines to Amherstburg, Ontario and Essex, Ontario, and one heading up towards Comber, Ontario.
The rail line was abandoned in 1989, and the rail line was donated to the Essex Region Conservation Authority in 1993, and Chrysler Canada gave a considerable donation to ERCA to convert the rail line to a bike trail. Work was finished on the trail by 1997, and it opened that year to use.
By the year 2001, CN Rail was so pleased with the popularity of the Chrysler Canada Greenway that they donated an additional 26-km spur line from Amherstburg, Ontario to Essex, Ontario. (The rails for this spur, and the spur leading from Comber to Leamington were removed in 1995, eliminating three at-grade railroad crossings on Highway 3. ERCA has stated they intend on converting the new trail from Amhurstburg to Essex as soon as funds become available, and stated this is part of their goal of improving the environment of Essex County, and for linking the communities in Essex County together via trails.
[edit] How to Travel
The Greenway allows several different modes of transportation: cycling, walking, horseback riding, snowmobile-driving in the winter, and cross-country skiing.
[edit] Alignment
The trail starts at the junction with Kings Highway 3, but has signs to cross at the nearby Walker Road, but has an unofficial "extension" which continues 2 km straight to its terminus with North Talbot Road. The Greenway also has five "Community Entrances", three of which (Harrow, Kingsville, and Ruthven) are of "service center" standards.
The Greenway is currently all gravel, and it is unknown if there are any plans to pave it in the near future.
Note: Not all exits are initially listed. more will be added as information is recieved.
| Municipality | Road/Intersection | kilometer post | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor, Ontario | North Talbot Road | 2 km | Ciociaro Club, AKO Camp | Windsor, Ontario |
| Tecumseh, Ontario | Kings Highway 3 | 0 km | Oldcastle, Ontario | Official Starting Point. Cross at Walker Road, 0.5 km west. Path continues for 2.0 km to North Talbot Road. Community Entrance. |
| Tecumseh, Ontario | South Talbot Road | 2 km | Essex, Ontario | |
| Essex, Ontario | Townline Road (Essex County Road 8) | 4.9 km | River Canard, Ontario, Essex | |
| Essex, Ontario | 14th Concession Road | 6 km | ||
| Essex, Ontario | 13th Concession Road | 7 km | ||
| Essex, Ontario | 12th Concession Road | 8 km | ||
| Essex, Ontario | 11th Concession Road | 9 km | McGregor, Ontario | |
| Essex, Ontario | North Malden Road | 9.5 km | ||
| Essex, Ontario | Essex County Road 12 | 12 km | ||
| Essex, Ontario | South Malden Road | 13.5 km | ||
| Essex, Ontario | Essex County Road 18 | 15 km | ||
| Essex, Ontario | Walker Road (Essex County Road 15) | 18.5 km | ||
| Harrow, Ontario | Essex County Road 20 | 21 km | ||
| Arner, Ontario | Arner Townline (Essex County Road 23) | 28 km | Schwabb Farms Community Entrance. Restored and rehabilitated Grain elevator, service center, park and ride. | |
| Kingsville, Ontario | Chrysler Canada Greenway | 30 km | 1.5-km Loop around a golf course. Somewhat narrower than the Greenway. | |
| Kingsville, Ontario | Chrysler Canada Greenway | 31.5 km | 1.5-km Loop around a golf course. Somewhat narrower than the Greenway. | |
| Kingsville, Ontario | Kingsville Train Station and Museum | 36 km | Kingsville Train Station, a former train station, is now a museum and service center/rest stop along the Greenway in the town of Kingsville. | |
| Ruthven, Ontario | Graham Sideroad | 40 km | Intersection with Ruthven Spur of trail | Ruthven, Ontario, Colasanti's Tropical Gardens. Trail splits into two paths: Ruthven-bound, and Colasanti-bound. Both are less than 2 km in length. |
| Ruthven, Ontario | Colasanti's Tropical Gardens | 42 km | End of Trail. | |
| Ruthven, Ontario | Graham Sideroad | 42 km | Talbot Road (Essex County Road 34), Leamington, Ontario | End of Trail. |
[edit] Extensions
Extensions of the trail are planned.
The Municipality of Leamington, Ontario has expressed great interest in converting their abandoned rail lines east of Talbot Road (CR 34) into an extension of the Chrysler Canada Greenway. Currently, bikes and farm tractors have to use dedicated bike lanes along the very-busy Talbot Road, and this is dangerous, due to the high speed limit, trucks, hills, and curves. Currently, the parts east of CR 34 are navigable by bike or foot, but it is not recommended, as the brush is quite thick and it may still be private property.
ERCA has expressed its intentions on linking Amherstburg, McGregor, and Essex to the trail network via a 26-km long trail, with an intersection somewhere near McGregor, Ontario. Aside from money, the insane traffic amounts on Highway 3 (which is scheduled to be twinned starting 2009) would pose a significant obstacle, unless the trail was routed along either an overpass/underpass, or through an intersection/Interchange, such as with Townline Road (County Road 8).
The City of Windsor has also expressed its intentions on linking its bike trail network to the Chrysler Canada Greenway. The most-likely candidate for this would be the Devonwood Bike Trail, which is the farthest-south reaching trail (the closest, with just 3.5 km separating the two), and already connects to an ERCA conservation area (Devonwood Conservation Area).
[edit] See Also
- Ganatchio Trail
- Little River Extension
- Russell Street Neighbourhood Trail
- Devonwood Bike Trail
- Riverside Drive Vista Project
- Bike Trails in the City of Windsor
- Trans-Canada Trail
- ERCA
