By REGINA BUTLER

Progress Staff Writer

Tanglefoot Trail got the last shot in the arm it needs to make the project come to a reality this past Monday when MDOT approved to commit the last $4.5 million that the trails committee needs.

“We got a $5.4 million grant to purchase the property and to construct the trail [in 2008],” said Randy Kelley, director of Three Rivers Planning and Development in a recent session with the Pontotoc City board of aldermen.

Kelley said when the figures came down the organization was some $4 million short of what was needed to construct the trail.

“Nobody had a clue what it would cost and once we got down to it we were short.

“We were going to build it in segments but the state would not agree to that because it is federal highway Transportation Enhancement grant.”

Stepping back to the drawing board briefly, so to speak, Kelley applied for a grant application from the state to make up for the shortfall.

The three counties of Union, Pontotoc and Chickasaw as well as the cities of New Albany, Ecru, Pontotoc, Algoma, Houlka and Houston agreed to commit either 1/4 mill tax or the equivalent dollars for those who have to tax over the next 15 years to pay the loan back.

Butch Brown MDOT Executive Director, announced the release of the funds Monday morning.

It is through the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP), that MDOT will enter into an agreement with The GM&O Rails to Trails Recreational District for purpose of overseeing the utilization of these funds.

The multi-purpose public trail will be for the use of pedestrians and cyclists which will run along the 43.2 mile abandoned railway through the three counties.

The trail will be constructed of asphalt, two inches deep and 10 feet wide, with a three foot shoulder on either side with parallel ditches and cross drainage structures.

Reinforcement, consisting of asphalt or concrete, along with railing, will be added to approximately 30 bridges which average 120 feet in length.

Half of this trail is located in Pontotoc County.

“We are funding this through tourism but there are two key factors that are important that I’ve said from day one,” Kelley noted.

“Number one, you are retaining ownership of that corridor. If you lose that corridor you will never get it back.

“It always has the priority for rail first. If it ever needs to be used for a rail it is the number one priority.

“Secondarily you own that right of way for running water, gas and electric lines in the future.

“We are looking at over a $10 million purchase and construction project that you are talking about putting a quarter of a mill into so it is a pretty good bargain.”

A construction timeline is not yet known, but will be reported on when the information becomes available.