Daily: May 21, 2012

By LIZ GOTTHELF, Staff Writer

SACO — A ceremony was held Wednesday to celebrate the latest segment of the Eastern Trail – along with a surprise dedication ceremony to honor John Andrews, the man who helped make it all happen.

The “real focal point” of the new trail section is the pedestrian bridge that runs over Route 1 in Saco, said Bob Hamblen, Eastern Trail Alliance president and Saco’s city planner. Hamblen said he and other officials wanted to acknowledge the work and efforts of Andrews over the past 15 years by dedicating the bridge to him.

“Simply put, we wouldn’t be here today, and there wouldn’t be an Eastern Trail if it weren’t for John Andrews,” said Hamblen.

The Eastern Trail, when completed, will provide 65 miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails from Kittery to South Portland along the former Eastern Railroad Corridor. About 20 miles are completed, the newest being a 4.3-mile stretch from Milliken Mills Road in Old Orchard Beach to Clark Street in Saco, on the edge of the Thornton Academy campus.

The trail is part of the East Coast Greenway, which when completed will provide trails that connect Calais, Maine to Key West, Fla.

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Biking excursion will begin in Kennebunk, end in South Portland

By Adam Chabot, Staff Writer, Scarborough Leader

The Eastern Trail Alliance will host an event called Spring on the Trail May 18 as part of an initiative to showcase over 10 miles of new off-road sections of trail and two bridges completed over the past 18 months.

Spring on the Trail is a 31-mile bicycle trek from Kennebunk Elementary School to Bug Light Park in South Portland. At about 2 p.m. riders will stop at Thornton Academy for lunch before continuing their ride back to South Portland. Advance registration is required in order to participate.

“This is the first time we’ve done a oneway (event) like this, that showcases the off-road sections,” said Carole Brush, executive director of the Eastern Trail Alliance.

Approximately 80 bicyclists have signed up for the all-day event.

Riders and their bikes will be loaded onto buses and trucks at 10:30 a.m. on Friday and will be transported to the elementary school in Kennebunk, where the event will begin at noon right after a group photo of all participants at the turnpike bridge.

“The initial background as to why we’re doing it, is that it’s being done in conjunction with the East Coast Greenway Alliance and the Eastern Trail is part of the southern Maine portion of the East Coast Greenway,” said Scott Marcoux, communication coordinator for the Eastern Trail Alliance.

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