SANFORD — An existing trail described by some as “goat path” is getting a whole new look and feel with help from the Maine Army National Guard.

The trail, which begins around Pioneer Avenue and extends past the city’s School Street public works garage and beyond, will eventually make its way to Sanford’s new high school and technical center, currently under construction off lower Main Street.

It is part of Sanford’s extensive system of more than 20 miles of trail, which include areas for walking, bicycling and enjoying the outdoors, enthusiasts say.

Lee Burnett of the Sanford Trails Committee said this year marks the second that a company of the National Guard has worked on the trail system as part of its annual training.

This trail will be strictly non-motorized and available to walkers, hikers and bicyclists, Burnett said.

“We’re creating a 10-foot wide trail, said unit leader 1st Lt. Mike Walsh of the 185th Engineer Support Company. “(It) was a goat path before.”

Seventeen members of the unit are using some very large equipment to move earth around, transforming the rudimentary half-mile trail, marked by all-terrain vehicle ruts, into one that invites use.

After the guard forges the trail and adds a course of gravel, stone dust is added to make a user-friendly surface.

Once the guard finishes its mission here, the trail committee will hydro-seed the shoulders of the trail and move in some boulders to deter ATV use.

The next segment, to be constructed at a later date, is the remaining three-quarters of a mile to the new high school complex, Burnett said.

The unit, based in Caribou, rolled into Sanford on July 31 with some very large equipment and is headquartered at the Sanford Armory, home of Detachment 1 of the 1136th Transportation Co. They’ll depart Sunday.

“This is prime-time training, said Sgt. David Noyes. “We’re fully engaged all day.”

That means guard members are up at 5 a.m., and engage in other military-oriented tasks before setting out to work on the trail.

Walsh and Noyes said local folks have commented on how well the project is going and how nice it is turning out – the company is ahead of schedule and happy to be in Sanford, working.

On Thursday, they were toiling in 96-degree heat. But they worked on, despite the temperature, because it is what they do – and this road construction unit must be ready to work in all sorts of weather and temperatures.

They will get a bit of downtime too.

“The whole company will come together for a hot dog and a cheeseburger,” Noyes said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].