Update 2 October:
The closure of the bike trail on Footscray Road—due to end on Friday—has been extended.
West Gate Tunnel contractors need a few more days to complete the erection of various overhead structures where work zones impinge on the riding route.
While original due to reopen this Friday, the timing has been pushed back and the path will be open again from 5am Monday 9 October 2023.
The route has been closed since 11 September and riders and walkers have been detoured via the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. Original story follows.
Riders on Melbourne’s busy Footscray Road bike route will need to switch to Dynon Road from 12 September for the next four weeks.
As work on the elevated roadway progresses rapidly, construction activity has moved closer to the bike path and options for new safe alignments have run out.
In particular, the building of the new on-ramp to the elevated road along the Port of Melbourne will occupy the existing bike path that riders have been using in recent months.
There will also be works on the bridge near Pearl River Road and further beam lifts near Shepherd Bridge.
The detour will be in place from 8pm Tuesday 12 September to 8pm Friday 6 October, depending on the weather.
This switch to Dynon Road and the Moonee Ponds Creek trail has been in planning for months, during which a series of improvements have been made to the new route.
Contractors for the West Gate Tunnel Project will be monitoring conditions along the detour.
Regular riders will know that the path along the lower Moonee Ponds Creek can flood in certain tidal and flow conditions. There is a flood detour available through North and West Melbourne should flooding occur.
Transurban has recently installed flood detectors which are connected to electronic warning signs in key locations to warn riders in advance if the creek trail becomes flooded.
These are currently being tested.