The City of Corner Brook is planning to amend its bylaws to permit limited all-terrain vehicle access through a segment of the downtown core later this month.
If the notice of motion put forth by council during its public meeting Monday is followed through during the next public meeting May 27, ATVs could be driving along Main Street by June 1.
The plan has been in the works for some time now to improve ATV access to the city.
The bylaw changes will see ATVs allowed to access city-owned roads in a way that will enable riders to get from one end of Corner Brook to the other.
In the past, ATV users and local tour operators have expressed frustrations at the difficulty of circumnavigating Corner Brook while riding through the area. Many bypass the city altogether and have their machines transported from one side to the other.
The designated route will start in the eastern end at the Newfoundland T’Railway around the Ballam Bridge and travel along Riverside Drive. The route will then move away from the waterfront and access Main Street and Herald Avenue before reaching Broadway.
Riders heading westward will be able to turn onto Broadway and head towards Pier Road, crossing the Lewin Parkway to do so. After Pier Road, the route will drop down to Griffin Drive and proceed all the way along the Curling waterfront to Hilliard’s Road where the Newfoundland T’Railway can be picked up again.
Riders coming from the west will be able to travel down Broadway and back onto Main Street and proceed eastward towards Riverside Drive.
Mayor Jim Parsons said opening up the downtown area to ATV traffic could be big boost to the local economy.
He said there will be provisions in the new legislation to allow temporary access to some other areas, upon special request.
The amendments do not mean snowmobiles will be permitted to drive along the designated routes, but the city is working on finding ways for snowmobiles to have better access to the municipality in certain strategic areas.
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