SACO — A ceremony was held Wednesday to celebrate the latest segment of the Eastern Trail ”“ along with a surprise dedication ceremony to honor John Andrews, the man who helped make it all happen.

The “real focal point” of the new trail section is the pedestrian bridge that runs over Route 1 in Saco, said Bob Hamblen, Eastern Trail Alliance president and Saco’s city planner. Hamblen said he and other officials wanted to acknowledge the work and efforts of Andrews over the past 15 years by dedicating the bridge to him.

“Simply put, we wouldn’t be here today, and there wouldn’t be an Eastern Trail if it weren’t for John Andrews,” said Hamblen.

The Eastern Trail, when completed, will provide 65 miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails from Kittery to South Portland along the former Eastern Railroad Corridor. About 20 miles are completed, the newest being a 4.3-mile stretch from Milliken Mills Road in Old Orchard Beach to Clark Street in Saco, on the edge of the Thornton Academy campus.

The trail is part of the East Coast Greenway, which when completed will provide trails that connect Calais, Maine to Key West, Fla.

Local and state officials, along with a representative from the office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, gathered at the Thornton Academy campus Wednesday to celebrate the latest addition, which was completed in November, and to honor Andrews for his efforts.

“I’m not dead yet,” joked Andrews, genuinely surprised as he received the news of the bridge dedication. He thanked everyone there for their support.

“I’m overwhelmed,” he said.

Earlier in the ceremony, some surprise visitors from California and New York had arrived: His two sons, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

Andrews is the president emeritus of the Eastern Trail Association, and one of the founding members.

“All I had was a dream,” he said.

In 1997, Andrews and other outdoor enthusiasts had the thought of creating a trail from Saco to Scarborough. However, other municipalities came on board, and enthusiasm and support grew.

“It just exploded,” said Andrews.

State Rep. Linda Valentino said Andrews has been a constant fixture in town and city halls, and lobbied in the Statehouse to get funding for the trail.

“I am proud to have this section behind my alma mater, Thornton Academy,” she said.

Mayor Mark Johnston and Old Orchard Beach Town Council Chairman Bob Quinn said the trail is an asset to their communities.

“He had the vision. He had the tenacity and the work ethic to stick to that goal and see it through. I think we can all be proud of the work that he’s done to make this a reality,” said Quinn of Andrews.

Hamblen said the Eastern Trail gives access to parts of communities people would otherwise never see.

“It reminds us why we live in Maine and is yet another reason that we value living in Saco, and Old Orchard Beach, and all the other communities that make up the Eastern Trail,” he said.

A 31-mile bicycle ride on the Eastern Trail will take place on Friday, May 18. Bicyclists will meet up at Bug Light Park in South Portland at 10:30 a.m. The riders and their bikes will be transported to Kennebunk, where they will depart at noon to bike back to South Portland. Registration for the ride is now closed, according to the Eastern Trail Alliance website.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or [email protected].