Bradford Rail Trail Groundbreaking Takes Place Friday

While city funding this year for the Bradford rail trail project remains pending before the city council, a groundbreaking ceremony with the city’s Beacon Hill delegation and others is scheduled Friday.

Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini announced during Tuesday night’s council meeting ground breaking for the first phase takes place at 2:30 p.m., Friday, behind the Roma Restaurant, 29 Middlesex St.

According to Fiorentini, the first phase of the rail trail will make improvements to the former railroad bed between the Comeau and Basiliere bridges at a total cost of $1.5 million. A future second phase would extend the trail to the Crescent Yacht Club.

A funding proposal for the city to spend $125,000 toward the project this year was intended to go before the Haverhill city council Tuesday, but was omitted earlier this week from a fund transfer request for “immediate” capital improvement spending including new and refurbished snow removal equipment ahead of the upcoming winter. Chief of Staff David S. Van Dam told WHAV Tuesday the funding request was taken out, “because we may have other funding source options.”

The matter is expected to be placed back on the council agenda next week or the following week, according to Fiorentini.