LISBON — The town of Lisbon held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Sabattus Boat Launch for the new Androscoggin River Trail in October.

The ceremony began with brief remarks from Town Manager Steve Eldridge, who thanked people for supporting the trail project.

Public Works Director Ryan Leighton provided a brief history of the development of the Lisbon Trails System, as well as the design and permitting process for the Androscoggin River Trail project.

Other members of the audience who spoke were Steve Warren, a member of the Lisbon Trails Commission, and Noyes Lawrence, a former member of the trails commission.

There are approximately 50,000 people per year using the trails, according to Lawrence, with “people from all over the state as well as outside Maine coming to use our trails in Lisbon.”

The Androscoggin River Trail plan was in the design and permitting phase for nearly four years. Woodard & Curran of Portland was awarded the engineering portion of the project; St. Laurent and Sons Excavation of Lewiston will construct the trail, anticipating a completion date in June 2014.

Once this portion of the trail system is completed, Lisbon will have four miles of bicycle and pedestrian trails in addition to the recreational trails located at Beaver Park.