Granger Trails Committee cuts the ribbon on new bridge

A new bridge crossing Oxley Creek was recently opened to help connect the community of Granger.

The Granger Trails Committee hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday for the bridge and walking trail, which helps connect the Windcrest area and the schools and provides safe walking paths to the community center and library.

The ribbon was cut for a trail hub near the community center in June 2021. Shelby Foley, part of the leadership team with Granger Trails Committee, said the committee wanted to expand on the project and provide a safe way to cross Oxley Creek.

“Basically everyone who lives on this side of town would have to go all the way down to the main drag and all the way around and back up and deal with traffic. Now they can just shoot on over,” Mayor Tony James said of the newly opened bridge.

Foley added that the project was completed using a combination of grants and other fundraising efforts along with help from the city of Granger. City Administrator Kirk Bjorland said Absolute Group and Mafco were a big help on the construction side.

“It’s just really nice that these guys worked so hard to see a finished project because once people see the finished project it just keeps the momentum going,” James said of the Granger Trails Committee. “We’ll have plenty to do with parks and rec and trails and all that stuff, but getting this one under our belt is a really good start for us.”

“We also have a tremendous amount of economic development occurring around the community,” Bjorland added. “We’re looking as that development occurs, how do we tie in the bike paths and the walking paths and pedestrian traffic.”

Foley said the newly opened bridge crossing Oxley Creek was a good first step.

“We’re excited to have it and we’re planning future projects too within the community to just keep connecting everyone, everywhere,” she added.

This article originally appeared on Perry Chief: Granger Trails Committee cuts the ribbon on new bridge