The next phase of Hall County's Highlands to Islands Trail System is getting close to an official opening.
Srikanth Yamala, Hall County's Planning Director, told an audience at the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Annual Transportation Forum this past week, that it will be just a matter of weeks and then the Chicopee Section of the system will be open to runners, walkers and bicyclists.
"We are still working on finishing the tunnel portion right underneath Atlanta Highway, which might be a few more months, but the actual trail should be open by April," Yamala said.
The tunnel is to be built at the end point of the Chicopee Section of the trail, located at the Gainesville office of the Georgia Labor Department of Atlanta Highway. The onset of the newest portion of the trail extends 2.8 miles back towards the city of Gainesville in the area of Palmour Drive.
Yamala said this portion of the project has been built at a cost of $1.8 million.
"It includes several sources of some federal money and some state dollars also," said Yamala.
The Highlands to Islands Trail System was birthed out of Vision 2030, an organization sponsored by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, and the project is a partnership with that team and local governments.
Yamala said there is no firm date on the calendar for a grand opening, but he believes it will happen in mid to late April.
