Trail Flow is a roundup of all the mountain bike trail related news of the week including new trail builds, advocacy, and planning. Do you have trail news? Email [email protected] for possible inclusion.
North Carolina county leasing land for bike trails
Wake County, North Carolina is leasing 151 acres of land from the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority for mountain biking. Though riders and runners are already using the land, according to WRAL News, it is closed for public use.
With the agreement, Wake County will pay the airport authority more than $5 million over the next 10 years and the county will fork out another $3 million for infrastructure to create trails and other amenities. Unfortunately, the airport has the option still to cancel the agreement, though it has the potential to last for 40 years.
Construction set to begin on Illawarra Trail network
Planning for the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Project began in 2015, and construction is finally slated to begin in 2023. The Australia National Parks and Wildlife Service and Wollongong City Council are working to create a concept plan that features 61 trails spread across 44km of singletrack stretching from Mount Keira to Mount Kembla. According to the Illawarra Mountain Bike Alliance, “we’re inching ever closer and should see some action in the next month or two.”
3.3-mile trail added to Kate Furbish Preserve in Maine
A new 3.3-mile singletrack mountain bike trail recently opened at Kate Furbish Preserve in Brunswick, Maine, bringing total trail mileage to 12. There’s a new parking area that opened this year as well, and improved signage is coming soon.
MTB trails in design for Brentwood, TN
The city of Brentwood, TN and Bike Walk Brentwood have signed a memorandum of understanding regarding new trails at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park. Rock Solid Trail Contracting is on board for the build and has flagged the trails, with construction set to begin as early as next year.
Lift-served MTB trail plan approved in Wisconsin
The Rib Mountain State Park master plan was recently approved in Wisconsin, paving the way toward opening lift-served mountain bike trails in the park. Backers anticipate a major economic boost to the region once the new trails are up and running.
