FARMINGTON – The next step for the Whistle Stop Trail Bridge project is a community meeting to discuss ideas for building the structure over the Sandy River.

Following their Monday meeting, a group working on the project decided to hold the meeting to solicit ideas about a trail bridge and funding opportunities, Sandy Richard said.

The group is asking people to gather at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Granary to explore possibilities for a bridge across the river at the site of the former railroad bed just north of Center Bridge. The bridge, designed for walkers, bikers, snowmobilers, skiers and horseback riders, would connect West Farmington to the downtown.

An engineering study and design report has been completed by a New Hampshire firm, The Louis Berger Group Inc., said Town Manager Richard Davis, who also serves on the bridge group.

“We want to hear people’s thoughts, ideas and concerns in an open discussion,” said Buzz Davis, another member who will facilitate the meeting. “We need to garner more interest in this trail bridge. It’s quite a structure and expensive to build, but something that will be there for many generations.”

Cost estimates for the bridge range from $1.6 million to $2.1 million, Davis said. Because of the distance across the river, the steel bridge structure will require a support pier in the center. Previous fundraising provided $12,000 for the study, with the remaining cost of $48,000 funded by the state Department of Transportation, he said.

The group is looking for ideas for funding opportunities as well as ways to get materials, people who may know bridge builders or a retired engineer and other thoughts that will help build the bridge, Richard said.

The Whistle Stop Trail follows the rail bed from West Farmington to the old depot on Route 4 in Jay just south of LaFleur’s restaurant, she said. Continuing the trail with a bridge has been discussed and planned for more than five years.

“The barrier is not the money. It’s building a consensus in the community,” Buzz Davis said. “Once you have that, we can get the money. It’s been done in Bethel and the Forks. … If they can do it why can’t we?”

The bridge would continue the trail to the parking lot beside Narrow Gauge Cinema and is near large fields that are popular for early morning walkers, Davis said.

Snowmobiles now travel across the sidewalk on Center Bridge to reach the Intervale and points north.

For more information about the meeting contact Buzz Davis at 778-4275, Richard Davis at 778-6538 or Sandy Richard at 778-0068.