THUNDER BAY -- The most popular local mountain biking trail is out of commission as a $43,000 chain link fence is being constructed around collapsed shafts in the Shuniah Mines.
in the summer of 2014, the main shaft of the 19th Century mine crumbled over 10 metres into the Earth.
Before that happened, the city's parks division had been back-filling depressions and holes as they appeared on the surface. But when a citizen reported the collapse to the province, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines mandated the city to decommission the site.
"We didn't think there was a danger because the mine was closed," said manager of parks, Paul Fayrick.
"Under the Mining Act, we have obligations as the mine owner to deal with problems like we've got here now where we see the shaft opening up, creating a hazard we have to deal with."
Crews were on site Tuesday, building nearly 400 metres of fencing around holes and depressions along the Grand Chasm trail. Once that's complete, the city will hire a mining engineer to design a plan that will fill in the mine, some corners of which Fayrick said were built 200 metres deep.
"It's frustrating because it diverts funds from other projects. Obviously, public safety is critical and that's the driver but somebody else's adventures 150 years ago have caused us to change the way we were planning to do business," he said.
"On a much more personal note from the community, the mountain biking club The Black Sheep have put a lot of time and energy into developing these trails and they're some of the best trails around."
The Black Sheep built the 100-150 metres of the Grand Chasm trail that will have to be moved in 2011 during a workshop with the International Mountain Bike Association. It was the first trail the club blazed in the landscape-conforming "Whistler Standard" style and it turned a page in the way local trails were built.
Having seen the collapse a day after it happened, Black Sheep cross-country race director Gerald Hamm said the safety concern is serious.
"You have to wonder too, what else is unstable underneath the land you're standing and riding on, " he said.
"Certainly for safety's sake, it's better to get something more permanent around these holes and hopefully at some point, a more permanent fix so we don't have to worry about safety issues in the future."
Hamm stressed the club is thankful the city has been receptive to its input. He estimates rebuilding will take 10 volunteers most of a day.
"It's kind of sad to see it go but we'll build some more."
