The dream to create a walking and cycling path between Morden and Winkler is becoming solid reality after more than 10 years of wishing.

While there's no timeline for starting the roughly 10 kilometre project, planning is underway between the councils of Morden, Winkler, and the R.M. of Stanley.

"We've done some work on the preliminary design," said Dave Haines, planning and engineering director with the City of Morden.

At this stage, the project is determining cost estimates so Provincial grant applications can be written and fundraising goals can be set. Not all the money will be coming from the Province or the cities and municipality.

The three centres have dedicated $300,000 to designing and building the path. They're applying for a $50,000 grant which would fund half of a study to pin down the detailed design of the project. The other half would be covered by the two cities and the R.M.

The entire project is estimated to cost around $2.5 million. Local business interests, which wished to remain anonymous, have committed over $300,000 towards the project.

The current design for the pathway has it sitting on publicly owned land on the south side of highway three. Future plans are for a similar pathway to be on the north side as the Stanley Corridor develops. It's intended to be used by pedestrians and cyclists and have lanes for traffic in both directions.

Intersections are proposed where the path would cross the highway at 1st St. in Morden and the intersection of highways three and 14, and 15th St. in Winkler.

However, there are many driveways and grid roads that link up to the highway requiring some kind of controlled crossing system including lights for night time use.

"Still details to be worked out," said Haines.

"The purpose is to give people a safe, convenient option to choose an active mode of transportation getting to and from work," Haines said.

The distance between Morden and Winkler is a banal commute for many people. Some already bike back and forth, but to encourage more people to do so demands a safer solution for the casual jogger or cyclist.

"We're trying to make a safer option for people," said Haines.