Construction Updates
AnsaMcAl Tree Planting
On 18 August, a team of volunteers from the AnsaMcAl Group of Companies came out and helped plant trees along the Carmichael/Buttals section of the Trailway.
The Trailway Project and Future Centre Trust would like to express their gratitude for the financial contribution made by AnsaMcAl.
June Construction Update
In preparation for the rainy season and the planting of trees, we have started clearing between Carmichael and Windsor.
As we move eastwards, we come across a number of structures that appear to have been built to deal with drainage. Most of them have not seen any maintenance and need proper restoration.
Fresh Milk / Public Art
The collection of artistic interventions project, a collaboration between The Fresh Milk Art Platform, Future Centre Trust, Environ Ltd (Adopt A Stop Barbados) and The Healing Arts Initiative in partnership with Culturunners, was launched at the Carmichael/Trailway crossing on the Barbados Trailway on 29 April 2023.
Bridge at Bulkeley - restoration
In early 2023, renowned coral stone mason and former road cycling national champion Colin 'Top Cat' Alleyne restored the old railway bridge between Bulkeley Factory and Carmichael Road.
The work was made possible by a generous donation from the Peter Moores Barbados Trust.
Shelter at Carmichael
In late April 2023, a midsize shelter was erected at the junction of the Trailway with Carmichael Road in St. George.
It is close promixity to the old railway bridge between Bulkeley Factory and Carmichael Road.
Columns
When completed, they will include some railing and act as chicanes, preventing vehicular access while allowing pedestrians and cyclists to pass through them without having to open or close any gates.
Benches at Valley
Some benches were added at Valley in November 2022
Bridge at Bulkeley - clearing
In early August 2022, volunteers from the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award program helped clearing bush that was hiding an old railway bridge near Bulkeley.
Bridge Foundations at Three Houses
In August 2022, after clearing the short section just south of the stream emanating from the Three Houses Spring, a group of volunteers manually cleared around the remains of the original railway bridge foundations.
More clearing at Three Houses
Between May and August 2022, we used construction equipment to clear a few more sections at Three Houses.
We were particularly interested in the section just south of the stream emanating from the Three Houses Spring.
Grading at Harrow
In July 2022 we starting grading the Harrow Plantation section and digging holes in preparation for tree planting events.
Clearing and Grading
After clearing dense bush and small trees with an excavator in February, and more debushing in May, a grader leveled sections of the Trailway between Bushy Park and Fortescue. (June 2022)
Debushing and Maintenance
As the adjacent cane is being cut, some debushing and maintenance was done at Valley and Constant in early June 2022.
Clearing at Three Houses
Clearing sections at Three Houses, Vineyard and Bushy Park continued in May 2022.
The work included debushing, grading and reclamation of the original track bed that had been incorporated into agricultural fields and where the original trail had been diverted.
Clearing at Three Houses
In February 2022 we started clearing sections at Three Houses, Vineyard and Bushy Park.
The work included the clearing of a watercourse, removal of illegally dumped garbage and reclamation of the original track bed that had been incorporated into agricultural fields and where the original trail had been diverted.
Parking at Valley
In January and February, work continued on the parking lot at Valley, which is being funded primarily by the Tourism Development Corporation.
The Trailway Project and Future Centre Trust would like to express their gratitude for the contributions made by Joe Brooker's Building Limited, Ready-Mix Limited and BRC West Indies Ltd.
Parking at Valley
In December, work started on the parking lot at Valley, which is being funded primarily by the Tourism Development Corporation.
Clearing at Constant
Work continued at Constant Plantation in November, in preparation for the next section of the Demo Stretch.
First, the bush is cleared, then the terrain is levelled and graded.
Emera Caribbean Tree Planting
On 12 November, a team of 13 members of Emera Caribbean office staff came out and helped plant trees along the newly paved section at Valley East.
The Trailway Project and Future Centre Trust would like to express their gratitude for the financial contribution made by Emera Caribbean.
Valley Shelter
On 4 October 2021, the teams from Adopt-A-Stop Barbados and Crane & Equipment erected the first shelter the Valley Trailhead in St. George.
A small parking lot, benches and signage are also planned.
Valley East Paving
After some delays because of heavy rain, the team at CO Williams Construction completed the paving of the next 300m on 8 September 2020.
This section is part of the Demo Stretch and is called "Valley East".
It is flat and straight and has room for about 100 fruit trees.
Palm Relocation
When construction work for the Barbados Water Authority at Spring Garden Highway threatened the cutting down of some palms, the Trailway Team sprang into action and quickly moved over 30 Royal Palms, Fiji Palms and Cotton Palms.
These palms now mark crossings and other highlights along the Trailway in the Salters/Valley area.
DEIA Tree Planting
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is a programme that equips young people for life and work. Having started in Great Britain in 1957, it was established in Barbados in 1963. Its Mission is to inspire young Barbadians to challenge themselves to gain life skills through fun, exciting, quality activities.
This year participants in the Gold Level Programme had the opportunity to help plant a number of fruit trees along the Trailway.
Clearing at Salters
In August the Trailway Team continued clearing sections of the Trailway west of the Demo Stretch.
This included the disposal of some of the remaining supports for a gas pipeline that the Barbados National Petroleum Corporation did not remove when they buried the pipeline some 10 years ago.
Preparation for Paving
Grading, leveling and laying of a marl foundation for the next 300m of paving were completed in July 2021.
WIRRED/FLOW Tree Planting
Through the One Tree for Every Bajan program funded by the Cable and Wireless Foundation/Flow, WIRRED worked with the Future Centre Trust and The Caribbean Permaculture Research Institute of Barbados (CPRI) to plant trees along the trail.
Many thanks to all our wonderful volunteers including members of the St. Gabriel's Sea Scouts, the Barbados Boy Scouts Association and UWI students from the Caribbean Tree Planting Week project; and our wonderful team who ensured the event ran smoothly.