By Marty Basch

Dave Kinsman finally sees the rail trail coming around the bend.

"People are wondering what's going on and now something really is. I can show my face at the post office," he said laughing.

Finally, the Mountain Division line in Fryeburg is being turned into a bicycle and pedestrian trail that one day may reach Portland.

But the going is slow.

Slow motion

The Mountain Division is the line abandoned in 1984 between Fryeburg and Portland. Maine Department of Transportation owns the stretch from Fryeburg to South Windham.

Some six miles of paved trail has already been constructed between South Windham and Standish.

Kinsman, a Fryeburg cycling advocate and president of the non-profit Mountain Division Alliance, says construction is under way on about a 1.5  mile section of trail from the Maine State Visitor Information Center on Route 302 near the New Hampshire border to Porter Road.

The Alliance works with the state to raise money for the trail with most of the money coming from the federal government.

Construction began about June 1 and is scheduled to wrap up September 1.

"There are bulldozers and excavators," he said. "They already had the logging equipment in."

He said the trail will be paved and a bridge will be built to cross Ward's Brook.

Patience

Kinsman has learned patience as this project has seen its starts and stops over the years.

"Some years go by and nothing happens," he says. "Then some years something happens which is always more exciting."

Next year, the plan is to continue building to Airport Road about another 2.5 miles.

He also says a stretch between Windham and Westbrook is being "engineered" and construction could begin in two years.

Brownfield bound?

Closer to the valley, the trail would have to go through Brownfield.

"Brownfield has an application in for funding from Route 160 to Fryeburg," he said. "That didn't get funded in this cycle. That could be a couple of years down the road."

Kinsman has pedaled the paved trails that are open to the people and reports that on good days some 50 people per hour use it.

"I think that once people see how popular it is at this end, more towns might apply for funding the trail through their town," he said.

When complete, the Maine Division trail would run 52 miles between Fryeburg and Portland. But not everyone supports it. There are those who would like to see freight and passenger train service return to the rails as a way to boost the state's economy. They argue there's more money to be made along line  from that, than from two-wheeled tourism and recreation.

Lovin’ it

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine lauds the rail trail.

"The Bicycle Coalition of Maine supports the construction of rail trails all over the state," said executive director Nancy Grant. "The rail trails are a great resource for bicyclists, including families, that want to ride and otherwise recreate away from motor vehicles. They are also a great resource for bike commuters.  The Maine Mountain Division is in an area of state highways that are in some cases narrow and winding and have cars traveling at high speeds.  Many less experienced cyclists are intimidated riding on those roads.  The Mountain Division Trail provides a great alternative."

Said Kinsman, "Things are going well now. I'm looking forward to riding it around Labor Day."