ATVs can legally cross section of Confederation Trail

All-terrain vehicle drivers will now be able to cross a section the Confederation Trail.

Last week, the P.E.I. ATV Federation and the Queens County Trail Blazers received written permission from the P.E.I. Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy and the Department of Tourism to legally cross the trail at a seven-metre wide by 20-metre long strip of land just north of the Royalty Junction in Winsloe.

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Paul Wilbert, president of the P.E.I. ATV Federation, explained permission to cross the trail is in the form of a "one-year contract."

"The bikes are allowed to cross and cross only at that location, but we are not looking for permission to ride down the trail at any location on P.E.I.," he added.

Wilbert said the crossing required the installation of a culvert, removal of trees to improve visibility, putting in place signs to inform the public of the access changes and liability insurance.

Access to businesses

Wilbert added that being allowed to cross at that section of the trail will give ATV drivers access to businesses, including an ATV dealership, and keep them from illegally driving on public roads.

"We're running down about 300 feet of farmers field, illegally coming on to Winsloe Road, riding down Winsloe Road for about eight or nine hundred feet in order to get to the Winsloe Lions Hall or the Winsloe Irving," he said.

"So by crossing the Confederation Trail, we eliminate the illegal activity of riding on that paved road."

Riders should be able to start using the crossing this week, he said.

Wilbert added that an application for a second trail crossing in the province was submitted earlier this year.

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