When completed, the new Androscoggin River Trail will provide the Lisbon community with four miles of bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly pathways.

The Town of Lisbon recently held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Sabattus Boat Launch for the new Androscoggin River Trail.
The ceremony began with brief remarks from Town Manager Steve Eldridge, who thanked everyone for coming and supporting the trail project. Public Works Director Ryan Leighton provided a brief history of the development of the Lisbon Trails System and of the design and permitting process for this phase. Other speakers included Steve Warren and Noyes Lawrence, current and former Lisbon Trails Commission members, who were instrumental in moving the project forward.
Lawrence asked those in attendance if they knew how many people were using the Lisbon Trails System to date. The answer to that question is approximately 50,000 people per year. In addition to locals, those users include people from across Maine and even outside the state. “Having a trail system like this in a community is good for the economics of Lisbon,” said Duane Scott of the Maine Department of Transportation.

The Androscoggin River Trail plan has been in the design and permitting phase for nearly four years. Woodard & Curran of Portland were awarded the engineering portion of the project, with St. Laurent and Son of Lewiston selected to do the actual construction of the trail. The first phase of the project will consist of tree clearing. St. Laurent plans to work throughout the winter months for a completion date in June 2014.
Once this portion of the trail system is completed, Lisbon will have four miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails, in addition to the recreational trails located at Beaver Park.
To follow the progress of the trail construction, see www.LisbonME.org.