The state will convert a section of an abandoned rail corridor in central Maine into a 32-mile trail for recreational use, including by ATVs and snowmobiles. 

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry said in a press release that it finalized the million-dollar purchase of the corridor segment last week. The trail is known as the Madison Branch and is part of the former Maine Central Railroad Company rail network.

It runs through Kennebec and Somerset counties, crossing the Kennebec and Carrabassett Rivers over scenic trellised bridges and connecting with several towns along the way. The state said in a press release that the segment will link up with existing routes on the Maine Interconnected Trail System and ATV Trail System. 

“When construction is complete, the trail will connect thousands of miles of local ATV and snowmobile trails and allow ATV riders and snowmobilers to travel from Oakland to Bingham and beyond, including the Moosehead Lake Region,” the release, from DACF, said. 

The state said the project had broad support from neighboring towns and recreation advocates, including Norridgewock town manager Richard Labelle, who called the acquisition a big step forward for his region’s economy. 

“The interconnectivity between recreational areas will be a positive impact on generations to come,” Labelle said in the state release. “A cohesive trail system will be good for the health and wealth of Central Mainers as we work to create an expanded trail network for outdoor recreation.”

The project got about half its funding through a $508,000 allocation from the Land for Maine’s Future program, matched by the Northern Border Regional Commission, the state said. 

They said construction to make the rail corridor ready for use by hikers, snowshoers, skiers, snowmobilers and ATV users will require additional funding and could take up to two years.