FARMINGTON - A hub for snowmobile trails has been rerouted around the new Rite Aid construction site on the Intervale, at least for now.

Members of Shiretown Riders Snowmobile Club are looking at options to keep access across the Sandy River open to snowmobilers, club trail groomer Mike Cote said Tuesday. Options being considered include building a temporary bridge to use until the more permanent Rail Trail bridge is undertaken and completed.

The club hopes to find another option for the rest of this season to give it time to build a more secure temporary bridge during the summer and fall, he said. Members realize that no matter where they put a structure now, it will be subject to high water and would probably be washed out this spring.

"Keeping the trail open at this point is very important," he said. "It's the only link in Farmington to everything north of Farmington without going 'way round,'" he said. Riders from Wilton, New Sharon and Industry use the site to cross the river and also visit the Intervale for gas and meals at the businesses there, he said.

After using the bridge sidewalk, the trail has passed through the park and ride and continued behind the Intervale businesses. Safety measures through the construction site have caused the club to post signs leading riders down the sidewalk to Irving Mainway and then to reconnect with the trail behind McDonald's and Irving for now, Cote said.

A temporary snow bridge over an oxbow peninsula behind the park and ride is being considered to finish the rest of this season, he said. Pushing snow across ice would provide a temporary solution if the water in the peninsula area freezes.

Many snowmobile trail groomers have reported problems with water this year, he said. Warmer temperatures earlier slowed the freezing process. Putting snow over the ice may cause more freezing issues, but if temperatures stay low, he believes that would be the best solution for now.

Once the water area east of the river freezes enough for Cote to groom the trail, riders coming across the bridge will make a sharp left and follow the trail through a dense section of trees to an area where forester Peter Tracy was supervising tree cutting for the town then on to the town's snow dump, he said.

The town is leaving a little more snow on the sidewalk and the contractor is being cooperative, but with the liability issue for them and the club, snowmobilers will need to follow the posted signs around it until a bridge is completed, he said.

The club is working with Code Enforcement Officer Stephen Kaiser as well as the contractor to find a safer way around the construction site and ways to finance a temporary bridge, club treasurer Jill Boulette said.

Sites being considered for the temporary bridge could be up to 60 feet long while some other spots could bring the bridge length down to 40 feet, Cote said.

About 40 miles of trails are groomed at least once a week and often more, he said.