Langford is considering building one of the most difficult portions of the E&N rail-trail, otherwise known as the Millstream ravine.

The section has steep walls and difficult geography, and stretches from Savory elementary to the Langford-View Royal border near the Galloping Goose trail. Constructing that leg of the rail-trail is ballparked at $3 to $4 million.

If the public shows enthusiasm for it, Langford parks staff will look at a construction budget and design details for that section of the trail, said Jason Parks, Langford’s parks manager.

“It’s a beautiful part of the trail, Parks said at a Langford parks open house last week. “It’s very scenic and would help take pedestrian traffic off Atkins and connect with downtown (Langford).

“Council wants to know there is support there and then we’ll look at options and partnerships. That’s the great thing about Langford. It’s always trying to figure out ways to get things done.

The Capital Regional District’s E&N rail-trail broke ground in Langford last week, starting, ironically, along a section near Atkins Road that would only become part of the rail-trail if and when it is extended through the ravine.

Langford council, while supporting the E&N rail-trail project, has been critical of CRD parks for avoiding the Millstream ravine and routing the trail up Wale and Goldstream roads.

With $11.8 million in grants, the project has about half the funding it needs to create a trail matching the rail from Langford to Victoria. CRD planners expect the trail to be completed in bits and pieces over several years, similar to the development of the Galloping Goose trail.

Coun. Lanny Seaton, chair of Langford’s parks committee, said routing trail users up steep Wale Road, which has no bike lane next to the idle Silkwind hole, “is not the favoured option of Langford.”

“We are in favour of doing the piece between Savory and Atkins,” Seaton said. “It’s a matter of us working with the CRD.”