LINK Pathways project moving forward

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Sunny South News

• Coaldale Council hears project update, including route changes

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

Town of Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn provided councillors with a LINK Pathway update at the Town of Coaldale regular council meeting on July 3.  

Councillors passed a motion to accept the update as information. 

The LINK Pathway, a bike bath connecting the City of Lethbridge and Town of Coaldale, began construction in May 2023 and became part of the Trans Canada Trail later that year, in October. The MPE LINK Pathway celebrated the grand opening of Phase 1 in August 2024. 

In his presentation, Van Rijn noted a confirmed change in the pathway route after successful discussions with a local landowner, whose property runs through the  pathway. 

“The committee was able to negotiate with a landowner that was hesitant to begin with, that is going to allow the pathway to go across their property and that’ll shorten the pathway by 1.3 kilometers,” said Van Rijn. “So that was excellent news and we’re very appreciative of the landowner for realizing the merit of this project and being willing to make those amendments.” 

The next item that is expected to be completed this year, is a square concrete tube that will be 186 feet long, 10 feet wide and eight feet high. 

“That will be going under Highway 512 or known as the jail road and that’s budgeted to take place this year,” he said, adding the town has had several in-kind donations made towards the project, including the construction of the concrete portion of the tunnel.        

“Before the in-kind donations, that little tunnel cost $1.8 million dollars. With our in-kind donations we’re hoping to get that down to approximately $1.4 million,” explained Van Rijn. “Once that project is done that will be it for 2025 for the Coaldale portion of it.” 

Van Rijn pointed out they are working with the LINK Pathway committee and the Town of Coaldale to install a sign where the pathway begins. 

“That sign is being installed now so anybody that goes from Coaldale Nurseries, south, approximately a kilometre  that will be the entrance to the MPE LINK Pathway,” he added, noting the path takes users 4.7 kilometres to Highway 512. 

Some challenges with the project were also highlighted during the presentation,  including the lack of available parking. Van Rijn, council and staff have all been asked where people will park to access the pathway. 

“We need to get a parking lot in there,” said Van Rijn. “One of the hiccups that we have is the area structure plan for the west development is not quite ready yet, where this parking lot can go.” 

As part of Phase 1 of the project, which runs from Coaldale to Highway 512, there will be several features added including a picnic shelter that is currently being built, signage, benches and kilometre markings.  

Van Rijn said that once the underground tunnel is completed, the project will continue on 43rd Street near the Fairview subdivision in Lethbridge. 

“They’re going to start from 43rd Street from Fairview and it’ll come out by the Tim Hortons intersection and then they’re going to work their way back east. That’ll give Lethbridge residents an opportunity to use the LINK Pathway coming from their part of the project,” he said, adding some land negotiations are still ongoing that need to be finalized. 

The committee has been very successful securing several grants, noted Van Rijn, pointing out they include $15,000 from the Community Foundation Grant, $75,000 from the Trans Canada Trail System, $1 million from the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP), $2,000 for signage, a $25,000 grant from TCT Underpass Research and an additional $8,500 from them for signage. As well,  a total of $8,000 from the Coaldale Community Fund, $2,500 from Walmart, and $65,000 from the Trans Canada Trail Capital Grant for a pedestrian underpass. 

“They have quite a few grants that are outstanding that are in excess of what the project total cost would be,” said Van Rijn. “So they’re slowly hoping that these grants are going to be successful so that we can get this project done in the next 24 months.”