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Elmer City’s proposed trail system will go out for bid Jan. 10, public works director “Jimmer” Tillman advised the town council last Thursday night.

The 2,100-foot trail, financed by a grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board, will connect Elmer City residents to the Downriver Trail system at two locations.

Tillman stated that bids will be opened Jan. 24, with the work done sometime in the spring.

The TIB grant of $250,000 will pay for engineer work and the actual construction of an 8-foot-wide paved trail from Third Street to two crosswalks, the second one near where Williams Street connects to the Lower River Road.

Tillman explained that the trail system will be a shared path for both bicycles and walkers.

The completed trail will allow Elmer City residents to access the Downriver Trail, a six-mile system, in a safe manner, with crosswalks allowing them to cross from one side of the Access Road to the other.

Tillman said earlier this year that as soon as this “Complete Streets” project is finished, the town plans to apply to the TIB to continue the trail system.

The “Complete Streets” designation and grant is to expand the use of streets so walkers and bicyclists can use the same streets and sidewalks.

Tillman has said that town Clerk Gary Benton played a key role in developing the original grant application.

The trail system will be the third TIB grant the town has received.