KINGFIELD — There’s some exciting news coming from the Maine Huts & Trails community.

The recent annual board of directors’ retreat at the Flagstaff Lake Hut revealed the MH&T board approved a plan to move ahead this year and build the Grand Falls Hut. In addition to the third hut, they also plan to construct an incredible 200-foot pedestrian bridge which will cross the Dead River. And there will be at least a dozen miles of new trails. The plan is to move forward and finish most of the above in 2010.

The MH&T board and staff have been very committed to completing the first phase and connecting their system with The Forks and West Forks, said executive director David Herring.

“Adding this third hut, building the bridge and completing the trails will add significantly to the MH&T offerings for the general public,” said Herring. This includes significant benefits for its members and non-members.

“It will allow trail users to spend three or four days traveling along our trails, spending each night in a hut and enjoying more than 40 miles of trails.”

Despite operating in a slow economy the Maine Huts & Trails’ business grew more than 35 percent from 2009 to 2010.

“We’ve only operated in a down economy, so it is hard to tell what effect the economy has had on us. We’re pleased with our growth, but adding the third hut will provide us with the infrastructure to achieve our business goals,” Herring added.

The 200-foot bridge will be much larger than any bridge they’ve constructed thus far. It will be the only pedestrian crossing over the Dead River between Flagstaff Lake and The Forks and will provide trail connectivity for the system between Carrabassett and The Forks. Herring said the bridge will be named after supporters Tom and Kate Chappell.

Preliminary plans call for a smaller hut than the first two. It’s expected to accommodate 32 people and is estimated at 3,500 square feet. Architectural renderings will become available over the next couple of weeks when the organization officially announces the project.

Herring also noted and expressed his appreciation to Robert and Gayle Greenhill of Greenwich, Conn. The Grand Falls hut will be named in honor of them, he said.

“We’re very pleased to continue to expand our offerings for people of all ages to get out and enjoy the beautiful places here in western Maine. By adding this third hut, we’ll be able to provide a multi-day backcountry experience that will draw people from throughout New England and beyond,” Herring explained.

He said that this project will help them to continue to increase their economic impact on the area and the communities through which the trail passes and provide an incredible venue for groups, families and individuals to enjoy healthy, people-powered recreation.

“Our goal has always been to create a resource of national significance and we feel that this is a big step in that direction.”

It is reported that the hut will be open by mid- December and they’ll either finish the trails this fall or next summer.

Herring said he’s appreciative of his board of directors, long-time supporters Leon and Lisa Gorman, the Elmina Sewall Foundation who are major supporters and the Dead River Co. He also said his organization was appreciative of the State of Maine (Land For Maine’s Future) which helped fund the purchase of the Dead River Corridor and the more than 1,200 members and many other major supporters.

It appears it’s going to be a huge year for the MH&T community.