Dalton hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the long-anticipated Mill Line Trail

DALTON, Ga. (WDEF) — The City of Dalton hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the long-anticipated Mill Line Trail.

The Mill Line Trail is a 10-foot-wide paved connection between Haig Mill Lake Park and the old Eagle Walk trailhead on Chattanooga Avenue.

The trail was opened to the public in late March after nearly nine months of construction.

Even before it was officially opened, the trail was already getting use from residents eager to walk, run, or ride bikes along the paved trail.

“It’s very rare to be able to make it up and down the Mill Line without seeing couple dozen people out here,” said the Director of Communications for the City of Dalton, Bruce Frazier.

It’s meant to serve bicyclists, runners, and walkers, but it features the most updated forms of safety throughout the six-mile trail.

“You can make your way up and down the trail…You’ll see they put markers along the trail that way you know they’re numbered so if you do have a problem with a twist, break, or something like that, you can call 9-1-1 and you can use those white post to tell the first responders exactly where you are so that they can get to you quickly,” said Frazier.

While it only took nine months to complete the project, the vision for Mill Line Trail has been considered for over 20 years… and after many approvals from contractors, it finally came together.

“It’s really just turned what was an unfinished trail, to one of Dalton’s best amenities,” said Frazier.

It was a long and bumpy road for the Mill Line Trail, but the dust has settled, and it is ready for loads of foot traffic for people to experience six miles of nature.