The ascent up from the Maribyrnong Trail at Cranwell Park is finished, and it rides as good as it looks.
This short but steep link in Braybrook, which connects the river trail to the bike route on Cranwell Street, has been accomplished with considerable care and attention.
The old gravel track was so vertical and slippery in places that it was almost unridable.
But now it is a fantastic little climb.
And don’t you just love how the City of Maribyrnong has painted the word ‘slow’ on the steep ascent?
Or maybe that is an instruction to your heart: it sure would have some speed up by the time you have reached the top of this climb.
Actually, they have done a great job. Note the little detail where the path flares wider on the s-bends where pedestrians are likely to pause for a rest.
And it is neatly fenced on the down-hill side to prevent undesirable excursions into the countryside.
The real benefit of this trail, however, will come in the future when the Maribyrnong Trail along the Braybrook side of the river is further developed.
Upstream the trail will be connected to developments in Sunshine that will see the path continue north on the west side of the river to connect to the M80 trail.
Not far downstream from Cranwell Park a new section of trail will continue along the river adjacent to Medway Golf Course towards Highpoint Shopping Centre.
That project, to be delivered as part of an infrastructure project ban Melbourne Water, will also provide a new bike bridge across the Maribyrnong to connect to the trail on the other side.