Mill Line Trail ribbon cutting ceremony

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. And it’s meant to serve bicyclists, runners and walkers. But it features the most updated forms of safety throughout the 6 mile trail.

“Very rare to be able to make it up and down the water the mill line without seeing couple dozen people out here so it’s really been fun whether you wanna come out here walk, jog, run you know you can do it all out here and it’s a great place to spend some time,” said Bruce Frazier, Communications Director for the City of Dalton.

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.

“So we talk about things being free and nothing is ever free. this is a tax payer supported project and its here for the community and northwest Georgia to enjoy. But people enjoy to get out and do something doesn’t have an access fee. So, for this to be no additional charge to the public, that’s a pretty great thing to make happen,” said Annalee Sams, Mayor of Dalton.

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 on unfinished trail to one of Dalton’s best amenities,” says 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 6 miles of nature.